Notices over benefits to contractual employees

The Delhi Commission for Women has issued notices to the Labour Department, Services Department and Forensic Science Laboratory under the Delhi government regarding non-payment of maternity benefits for contractual employees.

The action was taken after the Commission received a complaint by a contractual employee of the laboratory regarding non-provision of maternity benefits during the course of her maternity leave.

“The Commission is of the view that the non payment of maternity benefits to contractual employees is a violation of the Maternity Benefits Act of 1961,” it said in its notice.

The DCW asked the departments as to why the guidelines regarding entitlements of contractual employees under the Maternity Benefit Act 1961 have not been issued till date and has also written to the Forensic Science Laboratory for immediate disbursal of the maternity benefits that the complainant is entitled to.

It issued a notice to the Home Department  asking it to ensure maternity benefits to the complainant and to issue “clear guidelines” to all its offices.

“Upon receipt of the Commission’s notice, the Home Department sought an opinion from the Law Department which has opined that female contractual employees are entitled to maternity leave as per the provisions of the Maternity Benefits Act 1961, which stipulates that every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit, which is 3 months of her salary,” an official of the Commission said.