Centre allows 6 months maternity leave for staff in case of surrogacy
PTC Web Desk: The Central Government has revised its laws to provide 180 days of maternity leave to women government employees who have children through surrogacy. This is a big change to a 50-year-old regulation that previously did not cover maternity benefits in surrogacy instances.
As per the revised Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, "In case of surrogacy, the surrogate, as well as the commissioning mother with less than two surviving children, may be granted maternity leave of 180 days, in case either or both of them are government servants."
This reform ensures that surrogate mothers receive the same maternity benefits as individuals who give birth naturally.
The revisions also include provisions for the "commissioning father," who will be entitled to 15 days of paternity leave within six months of the child's birth. The new guidelines also allow the "commissioning mother" to take childcare leave.
"In case of a child begotten through surrogacy, the commissioning father who is a male government servant with less than two surviving children may be granted paternity leave of 15 days within the period of 6 months from the date of delivery of the child," the new rules further stated.
Existing rules allow "a female government servant and a single male government servant" to take child care leave for a maximum of 730 days during their entire service "for taking care of two eldest surviving children, whether for rearing or for looking after any of their needs, such as education, sickness, and the like".
- PTC NEWS
