Evaluation of the implementation of Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, among working mothers of Mysuru: A cross-sectional study

Background & objectives The Maternity Benefit Act, introduced in 1961, regulates maternity leave policies for women in various workplaces. The Amendment of 2017 extended maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. It also provides benefits for adopting and commissioning mothers, work-from-home options, and mandates crèches in companies with 50+ employees. This study evaluates the awareness and implementation of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 among working mothers in Mysuru. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months (May-November 2022). Data were collected from 300 working mothers through a pre-designed, structured questionnaire administered via one-on-one and telephonic interviews, stored electronically, and managed using secure digital databases. Data were analysed using MS Excel 2010 and SPSS version 25. Results Among participants 82.7 per cent (n=248) of women availed maternity leave. 95.1 per cent (n=285) took leave for 12-26 wk, with 86.3 per cent (n=214) receiving full pay, 10.1 per cent (n=21) partial pay, and 4.1 per cent (n=10) no pay. 12.3 per cent (n=37) used the crèche facility, while 56.7 per cent (n=170) took nursing breaks. This study found that most participants were aware of the Maternity Benefit Act. Awareness of specific provisions, such as paid leave for adoptive or commissioning mothers (n=135, 45.5%), medical bonuses (n=29, 9.7%), and legal provisions (n=31,10.3%), was limited. Most participants reported high satisfaction with the Act's implementation, though gaps in availability of crèche and awareness of certain provisions were evident. Interpretation & conclusions Robust implementation and increased awareness of the Maternity Benefit Act is needed to enhance its effectiveness. While most participants rated the Act favourably, improvements in crèche provision, awareness of adoptive mother benefits, and employer compliance are needed to bridge gaps and promote gender equality in the workforce.