Tag: Labour Laws

National

New Laws to Expand Maternity Benefits, Paid Leave for Fathers

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Rency Gomes, Team Allycaral National Desk

The government has approved sweeping legislative changes aimed at strengthening parental rights and workplace protections, Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste announced. The Cabinet has cleared amendments to the Maternity Protection Act and the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act, marking a significant shift in labour policy to reflect evolving family structures and caregiving responsibilities.

According to the minister, the amendments will broaden paid leave entitlements beyond mothers to include fathers and adoptive parents, promoting shared parenting and greater gender balance in caregiving roles. This expansion is seen as a major step towards more inclusive and family-friendly workplace policies.

The reforms also remove several long-standing restrictions on maternity benefits that have been criticised by workers’ unions and labour rights advocates for years. These changes aim to ensure that women are better protected during pregnancy and after childbirth, without facing unnecessary employment barriers.

Once enacted, the revised laws are expected to enhance job security, improve work-life balance, and provide stronger protections for parents during and after childbirth or adoption. The government says the measures reaffirm its commitment to progressive labour reforms that support families, promote equality in the workplace, and adapt employment laws to contemporary social realities.

Human Interest

Right to Disconnect Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha Signals Major Relief for Employees

allycaralgoa

Delhi, December 8, 2025: In a major move towards strengthening employee welfare in India’s increasingly connected digital environment, the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the fifth day of Parliament’s winter session. The session commenced on December 1.

The private member’s bill was introduced by Supriya Sule, Lok Sabha MP from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Highlighting the urgent need to curb digital burnout, Sule stated that the Bill aims to “foster a better quality of life and a healthier work–life balance” by protecting employees from the pressure of after-hours work communication. She also posted a video of her speech on X, emphasising the growing stress caused by always-on work culture.

Key Provisions of the Right to Disconnect Bill

If enacted, the Bill will:

  • Prohibit employers from mandating employees to answer calls, emails, or messages after working hours.
  • Allow workers complete freedom to disconnect during weekends, public holidays, and approved leave.
  • Require organisations to clearly define official working hours and set expectations regarding communication.
  • Impose financial penalties on employers who violate these rights.
  • Establish an employee welfare authority to resolve work–life balance–related grievances.

Advocates believe this reform could bring India closer to global labour standards, where countries like France and Portugal have similar protections for employees’ personal time.

Additional Employee-Focused Bills Introduced

Supriya Sule presented two more private member’s bills focused on worker welfare:

  • The Paternity and Paternal Benefits Bill, 2025, which seeks to provide paid paternal leave to enable fathers to participate actively in early child development.
  • The Code on Social Security (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing formal recognition of gig workers as a separate category eligible for minimum wages, regulated hours, social security, and improved working conditions.

On the same day, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor introduced a bill seeking to amend the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, to cap working hours. Citing alarming data — including that 51% of India’s workforce works more than 49 hours a week and 78% experiences burnout — Tharoor noted the urgent need to safeguard workers’ physical and mental wellbeing.

With these multiple proposals, Parliament has seen a renewed focus on employee rights, mental health, and labour reforms.