The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has announced that government will pay employers salaries for first seven of 26 weeks of maternity leaves for women earning more than Rs 15,000 per month.

The announcement came after the reports were cited that employers are reluctant to hire pregnant women after maternity leave was extended from 12 to 26 weeks. The development took place in 2017 with amendment to the Maternity Benefits Act. Canada and Norway provides for 50 and 44 weeks maternity leaves instead.