Maternity leave for women govt employees for 3rd child increased to one year in TN

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced extending the maternity leave for its women employees for the birth of their third child from 12 weeks to 365 days, the same duration that they get for the first two children.

Currently, married women government employees with fewer than two surviving children are granted 365 days of maternity leave, while those with two or more surviving children receive up to 12 weeks of maternity leave.

During the demand for grants to his department, Minister for Human Resources Management, D Sarathkumar told the state Assembly, "Under these circumstances, as the Tamil Nadu government is a welfare-oriented administration prioritising social welfare and women's empowerment, the maternity leave currently provided for the third child of female government employees will be enhanced from 12 weeks to 365 days".

The original 90 days of maternity leave was raised to six months in 2011, nine months in 2016, and extended to one year (365 days) in July 2021 by the respective state governments of the day, led by the AIADMK and the DMK.

Under the standard eligibility framework, the 365-day benefit applies to regular female employees with fewer than two surviving children, a government source said.

However, in line with directives from the Apex Court and subsequent state amendments, state government women employees with two or more surviving children remain entitled to 12 weeks (84 days) of maternity leave with full pay.

A senior official also said that soon a detailed government order will be issued to give effect to the announcement in the Assembly.