Maternity
Maternity
Maternity
Published vide Notification No. 2/M1-101/64-L&E-10642 dated 21st November, 1964, Bihar
Gazette Part 2, dated 27.1.1965
bh437
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) These Rules may be called the Bihar Maternity
Benefit Rules, 1964.
(a) the "Act" means the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (53 of 1961);
(b) "Competent Authority" means in relation to establishments other than mines, the
Chief Inspector appointed under sub-section (2) of Section 8 of the Factories Act,
1948 (63 of 1948) and includes a Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories;
(c) "Establishment" wherever used in these Rules will refer to an establishment other
than a mine to which the Act applies or has been applied;
(d) "Form" means a Form appended to these Rules;
(e) "Muster Roll" means a muster roll maintained under Rule 3;
(f) "Registered Medical Practitioner" means a medical practitioner whose name has
been enrolled in a register maintained under any law for the time being in force
regulating the registration of practitioners of medicines;
(g) "Section" means a section of the Act;
(h) All other words and expressions used hereinafter and not defined in these rules but
defined in the Act shall have same meaning as respectively assigned to them in the
Act.
3. Muster Roll. - (1) The employer of every establishment in which women are employed
shall prepare and maintain a muster roll in Form "A" and shall enter therein particulars of all
women workers employed in the establishment, in the manner required therein:
Provided that the Inspector, if he is satisfied that any register or record maintained by any
establishment in any other form furnishes all the required particulars, may in writing direct
that the said Register or record be treated as muster roll for the purposes of this Rule.
(2) All entries in the muster roll shall be made in ink and maintained up to date and it shall
always be made available for inspection by the Inspector during the normal working hours
of establishment.
(3) The employer may enter in the muster roll such other particulars as may be required for
any other purpose of the Act.
(4) Every muster roll shall be preserved for a period of two years form the date of the last
entry made therein and shall be produced before an Inspector whenever required within the
said period.
4. Proof. - (1) The fact that a woman is pregnant or has been delivered of a child or has
undergone miscarriage or is suffering from illness arising but of pregnancy, delivery,
premature birth of a child or miscarriage shall be proved by the production of certificate to
the effect-
(2) The fact that a woman has been confined may also be proved by the production of a
certified extract from a birth register maintained under the provisions of any law for the time
being in force or a certificate signed by a registered midwife.
(3) The fact that a woman has undergone miscarriage may also be proved by the
production of a certificate signed by a registered midwife.
(4) The fact of death of a woman or a child may be proved by these production of a
certificate to the effect in Form "C" from any of the person as referred to in sub-rule (1) or by
production of a certified extract from a death register maintained under the provisions of any
law for the time being in force.
(2) In case of doubt the maternity benefit or other amount due to a woman shall be
deposited by the employer, within two months of the date of death of the woman concerned
with the Competent Authority who shall after making necessary enquiries, pay it to the
person who in his opinion is entitled to receive it.
(3) Whenever the payment referred to in sub-rule (1) is made, a receipt shall be obtained by
the employer in Form 'F' from the person to whom the payment is made. In cases falling
under sub-rule (2), a receipt shall be given to the employer by the Competent Authority.
(4) The medical bonus shall be paid along with the second instalment of the maternity
benefit.
(5) The maternity benefit or any other amount payable under Section 7 shall be paid within
two months of the date of death of the entitled to receive such benefit or amount.
(6) The wages payable under Section 9 shall be paid to the woman entitled to receive such
wages within forty-eight hours of production by her of the certificate in Form 'B' or Form 'D'.
(7) The wages payable under Section 10 shall be paid to the woman entitled to receive such
wages within forty-eight hours of the production of the proof described in Rule 4.
6. Break for nursing child. - Each of the two breaks mentioned in Section 11 shall be of
fifteen minutes' duration. In addition to these fifteen minutes sufficient time shall be allowed
at each break to cover the distance from the place of work to the creche or to the place
where the children are left by woman while on duty and back, provided it shall not be of less
than five minutes and more than fifteen minutes. If any dispute arises regarding the total
period of break, the matter shall be referred to the Competent Authority whose decision
shall be final and binding.
7. Duties and powers of the Competent Authority and Inspector. - (1) The Competent
Authority shall be responsible for the administration of these Rules throughout the State of
Bihar, except mines.
(2) Every Inspector shall discharge his duties within the area assigned to him by the State
Government and shall act under the supervision and control of the Competent Authority.
[(3) Every Inspector shall at each inspection of an establishment verify and satisfy himself-]
(a) whether due action has been taken on every notice given under Section 6;
(b) whether the Muster Roll prescribed under Rule 3 is correctly maintained;
(c) whether there have been any cases discharge or dismissal or notices of discharge or
dismissal in contravention of the provisions of Section 12 since the last inspection;
(d) whether the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 4, sub-sections (5) and (6) of
Section 6, Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 19 have been complied with and whether
amounts due have been paid within the prescribed time;
(e) whether there have been any cases of deprival of maternity benefit or medical bonus
in contravention of sub-section (2) of Section 12; and
(f) how far irregularities pointed out a previous inspection have been remedied and how
far orders previously issued have been complied with.
(4) Without any prejudice to the powers conferred by Section 15 of the Act an Inspector
may-
(a) carry out such inspection, investigation and enquiry and require the production of
such papers, records, registers or documents as he may consider necessary to
ascertain that the provisions of the Act and these rules are being complied with and
are not or have not been contravened;
(b) ask an employer in writing to furnish such information within a specified time, as may
be relevant to the enforcement of the Act and these Rules and as may be required in
connection with any complaint made to him or with any contravention reported to him
or brought to his notice;
(c) ask an employer in writing to furnish such figures and statistics within a specified
time, as may be required for the compilation of any statistics or data relating to the
employment of woman of enforcement of the Act and these rules;
(d) issue an inspection note to the employer mentioning therein the defects,
irregularities or violations observed by him, or issue an order directing the employer
or rectify or remove within a specified time any defect, irregularity or contravention
observed by him, and to report compliance to him, whether any prosecution in
respect thereof is instituted or not; and
(e) institute and conduct any prosecution in any Court of Law against any employer for
any contravention of any of the provisions of the Act and these Rules.
8. Acts which constitute gross misconduct. - The following acts shall constitute gross
misconduct for the purpose of Section 12, namely:-
(2) The appeal may be made in writing and either handed over personally or sent under a
registered cover to the Competent Authority.
(3) When a appeal is received, the Competent Authority shall furnish a copy of the
memorandum of appeal to the employer call for his reply thereto and also ask him to
produce documents connected with the issue of the appeal by a fixed date. The Competent
Authority may ascertain further details if necessary, from the employer as well as from the
woman. On considering the facts presented to him and ascertained by him the Competent
Authority shall give his decision. In case the employer fails to submit his reply or produce
the required documents within the specified period, the Competent Authority may give his
decision ex parte.
10. Complaint under Section 17. - (1) A complaint under sub-section (1) of Section 17
shall be made in writing in Form 'H' or 'I' as the case may be.
11. Appeal under Section 17. - (1) An appeal against the decision of the Inspector under
sub-section (2) Section 17, shall lie to the Competent Authority.
(2) The aggrieved person shall prefer an appeal in writing to the Competent Authority in
Form 'J' and file other supporting documents.
(3) When an appeal is received the Competent Authority shall call from the Inspector before
a fixed date, the record of the case. The Competent Authority shall, if necessary, also
record the statement of the aggrieved person, and of the Inspector and seek clarification if
any required.
(4) Taking into account the documents, the evidence produced before him, and the facts
presented to him or ascertained by him, the Competent Authority shall give his decision.
12. Supply of forms. - The employer shall supply to every woman employed by him at her
request free of cost copies of Forms 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F', 'G', 'H' and 'I'.
Provided that where a notice, appeal or complaint under the said rules has been submitted
by a woman entitled to receive maternity benefit or any other amount due under the Act in a
form other than the prescribed from, the authority concerned may, within 15 days of the
receipt of such notice, appeal or complaint, require the woman to submit the notice, appeal
or complaint, as the case may be, in the prescribed form.
14. Records. - Records kept under the provisions of the Act and these Rules shall be
preserved for a period of two years from the date of the last entry made therein.
15. Abstract. - The abstract of the provisions of the Act and these Rules required to be
exhibited under Section 19 shall be in Form 'K' shall be exhibited in such manner as the
Competent Authority may require.
16. Annual Returns. - (1) The employer of every establishment shall on or before the 21st
day of January in each year submit to the Competent Authority a return in respect of the
preceding year in each of the Forms 'L', 'M', 'N' and 'O' giving therein complete and correct
informations as required to be furnished in the respective forms.
(2) If the employer of an establishment to which the Act applies sells, abandons or
discontinues the working of the establishment, he shall within one month of the date of sale
or abandonment or within four months of the discontinuance, as the case may be submit to
the Competent Authority a further return in each of the said forms in respect of the period
between the end of the preceding year and the date of sale, abandonment or
discontinuance.
Form A
(See Rule 3)
Muster Roll
Name of Establishment................
1. Serial number.
3. Date of appointment.
4. Nature of work.
5. Dates with months and year in which she is employed, laid off and not employed.
12. Date with the amount of maternity benefit paid in advance of expected delivery.
15. Date with the amount of wages paid on account of leave under Section 9.
16. Date with the amount of wages paid on account of leave under Section 10 and period of
leave granted.
18. If the woman dies, the date of her death, the name of the person to whom maternity
benefit and/or other amount was paid', the amount thereof, and the date of payment.
19. If the woman dies and the child survives, the name of the person to whom the amount of
maternity benefit was paid on behalf fit of the child and the period for which it was paid.
20. Signature of the employer of the establishment authenticating the entires in the muster
roll.
Form B
[See Rule 4 (1)]
This is to certify that I examined..................... wife/daughter of..................a woman
employee in (name of establishment) on....................(date) and found/cannot discover that
she is pregnant and is expected to be delivered of child within......................(month and
days) from the abovementioned date/has undergone miscarriage/has been delivered of a
child on (date) or is suffering from (date) from illness arising out of the
pregnancy/delivery/premature birth of a child or miscarriage..............
Date......................
Date......................
Date......................
(Name of establishment)
...............
...............(Name of establishment)
Date....................
Signature of an attestor in case the Signature or thumb
woman is not able to sign and affixes impression of
thumb impression *woman employee
or her nominee or
legal
representative.
*Strike out unnecessary portion.
Form G
(See Rule 9)
To
:...............(address)
Sir,
Date....................
Signature of an attestor in case the Signature or thumb
woman is not able to sign and affixes impression of the
thumb impression woman.
Form H
(See Rule 10)
To
The Inspector,
..................(Address)
Sir,
Date....................
Signature of an attestor in case the Signature or thumb
woman is unable to sign and affixes impression of the
thumb impression woman.
Form I
(See Rule 10)
To
The Inspector
Sir,
Date....................
Signature of an attestor in case the Signature or thumb
nominee/legal representatives is impression of the
unable to sign and affixes thumb impression nominee/legal
representative.
Full address of the nominee/legal representative.
* Strike out unnecessary portion.
Form J
(See Rule 11)
To
..............(Address)
Sir,
Shri ................. Inspector, having directed under sub-section (2) of Section 17 to pay the
Maternity Benefit or other amount being.............(nature of amount) which...........(name of
woman) is said to be entitled, I prefer this appeal under sub-section (3) of Section 17. In
view of the facts mentioned in the memorandum attached hereto and other documents filed
herewith it is submitted that the woman is not entitled to the maternity benefit or the said
amount and hence the decision of the Inspector in this behalf, copy of which is enclosed,
may be set aside.
Date..........
1. No employer shall knowingly employ a woman during the six weeks immediately,
following the day of her delivery or miscarriage and no woman shall work in any
establishment during the said period.
2. No pregnant woman shall on a request being made by her in this behalf, be required by
her employer to do during the period of one month immediately preceding the period of six
weeks before the date of her expected delivery and also for any period during this period of
six weeks for which she does not avail of leave of absence, any work which is of an arduous
nature or which involves long hours of standing, or which in any way is likely to interfere
with her pregnancy or the normal development of the foetus, or is likely to cause her
miscarriage or otherwise to adversely affect her health.
3. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, every woman who has actually worked in an
establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit for a period of not
less than one hundred and sixty days, including the days during which she was laid off,
shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for the payment of maternity benefit at
the rate of her average daily wages, or one rupee a day, whichever is higher, for the period
of her actual absence not exceeding six weeks immediately preceding and including the day
of her delivery and for the six weeks immediately following that day:
Provided that the qualifying period of one hundred and sixty days aforesaid shall not apply
to a woman who has immigrated into the State of Assam and was pregnant at the time of
the immigration:
Provided further that where a woman dies during the period for which maternity benefit is
payable to her, the benefit shall be payable only for the days up to and including the day of
her death. However, where the woman having been delivered of a child, dies during her
delivery or during the period of six weeks immediately following the date of her delivery,
leaving behind in either case the child, the employer shall be liable for the payment of
maternity benefit for the entire period of six weeks immediately following the day of her
delivery but if the child also dies during the said period then, for the days up to and including
the day of the death of the child.
(2) The amount of maternity benefit for the period preceding the date of her expected
delivery shall be paid in advance by the employer to the woman on production of a
certificate in Form 'B' stating that she is pregnant and is expected to be delivered of a child
within six weeks of the date of production of the certificate, and.the amount due for the
subsequent period shall be paid by the employer to the woman within forty-eight hours of
production of the certificate in Form 'B' or Form 'D' stating that she has been delivered of a
child or production of a certified extract from a birth register maintained under the provisions
of any law for the time being in force.
4. (1) Any woman employed in an establishment and entitled to maternity benefit under the
provisions of this Act may give notice in writing in Form 'E' to her employer stating that her
maternity benefit and any other amount to which she may be entitled under this Act may be
paid to her to such persons as she may nominate in the notice and that she will not work in
any establishment during the period for which she receives maternity benefit.
(2) In the case of a woman who is pregnant, such notice shall state the date from which she
will be absent from work, not being a date earlier than six weeks from the date of her
expected delivery.
(3) Any woman who has not given the notice when she was pregnant may give such notice
as soon as possible after the delivery.
(4) On receipt of the notice the employer shall permit such woman to absent herself from
the establishment untill the expiry of six weeks after the day of her delivery.
5. (1) Every woman entitled to maternity benefit under the Act shall also be entitled to
receive from her employer a medical bonus of twenty-five rupees, if no pre-natal
confinement and post-natal care is provided for by the employer free of charge. The medical
bonus shall be paid along with the second instalment of a maternity benefit.
(2) In case of miscarriage, a woman shall, on production of a Certificate in Form 'B' or Form
'D' be entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit, for a period of six weeks
immediately following the day of her miscarriage. The wages shall be paid within 48 hours
of production of the certificate in Form 'B' or Form 'D'.
(3) A woman suffering from illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth or
miscarriage shall, on production of a certificate in Form 'B' be entitled, in addition the period
of absence allowed to her on account of maternity or miscarriage, as the case may be to
leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a maximum period of one month. The
wages for the leave period shall be paid within 48 hours of the expiry of that period.
6. Every woman delivered of a child who returns to duty after such delivery shall in addition
to the interval for rest allowed to her be allowed in the course of her daily work two breaks
of 15 minutes' duration for nursing the child until the child attains the age of fifteen months.
An extra sufficient period, depending upon the distance to be covered, shall be allowed for
the purpose of the journey to and from the creche or the place where the children are left by
woman while on duty, provided that such extra period shall not be less than 5 minutes and
more than 15 minutes' duration.
7. (1) When a woman absents herself from work in accordance with the provisions of the
Act, it shall be unlawful for her employer to discharge or dismiss her during or on account of
such absence or to give notice of discharge or dismissal on such a day that the notice will
expire during such absence, or to vary to her disadvantage any of the conditions of her
service.
(2) (a) The discharge or dismissal of a woman at any time during her pregnancy, if the
woman but for such discharge or dismissal would have been entitled to maternity benefit or
medical bonus shall not have the effect of depriving her of the maternity benefit or medical
bonus:
Provided that where the dismissal is for one or more of the following acts the employer may,
by order in writing communicated to the woman, deprive her of the maternity benefit or
medical bonus or both:-
9. (1) Any woman claiming that maternity benefit or any other amount to which she is
entitled under the Act and any person claiming the payment due has been improperly
withheld may make a complaint to the Inspector in writing in Form 'H' or 'I' as the case may
be.
(2) the Inspector may, of his own motion or on receipt of a complaint in Form 'H' or 'I' make
an inquiry or cause an enquiry to be made and if satisfied that payment has been wrongfully
withheld, may direct the payment to be made in accordance with his orders.
(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Inspector may, within thirty days from the
date on which such decision is communicated to such person, appeal to the Chief Inspector
of. Factories.
(4) The decision of the Chief Inspector of Factories where an appeal has been preferred to
him or of the Inspector where no such appeal has been preferred to him shall be final.
10. (a) The employer shall supply to every woman employed by him at her request free of
cost copies of Forms 'B', 'C', 'E', 'G' 'H', and 'I'.
(b) The failure to submit a notice, appeal or complaint in the prescribed form will not
affect the right of woman entitled to receive maternity benefit or any other amount due
under the Act. Where a notice, appeal or complaint has been received in a form other
than the prescribed form, the authority concerned shall within fifteen days of the
receipt of such notice appeal or complaint, require the woman to submit the notice,
appeal or complaint, as the case may be in the prescribed form.
11. (a) (1) The employer of every establishment in which woman are employed shall
prepare and maintain a muster roll in Form 'A' and shall enter therein particulars of all
woman workers in the establishment.
(2) All entries in the muster roll shall be made in ink and maintained up to date and
it shall always be available for inspection by the Inspector during working hours.
(b) The employer of every establishment shall on or before the 21st day of January, in
each year submit to the Chief Inspector of Factories, a return in each of the Forms 'L',
'M, 'N' and 'O' giving information as to the particulars specified in respect of the
preceding year.
Form L
(See Rule 16)
Annual return under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 for the year ending on the 31st
December, 19........
General Instructions
1. Name of the establishment.
(b) If so, how many beds are provided for woman employees?
(c) Is there a lady doctor?
(d) If so, what are her qualifications?
(e) Is there a qualified midwife?
(f) Has any creche been provided?
Signature of Employer.
Date.
Form M
(See Rule 16)
Annual return under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 for the year ending on the 31st
December, 19-
Employment, dismissal, payment of bonus, etc. of woman for the year ending on 31st
December, 19-
1. Name of establishment.
3. Number of women who worked for a period of not less than one hundred and sixty days
in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of delivery.
4. Number of women who gave notice under Section 6.
8. Number of cases where prenatal confinement and post-natal care was provided by the
management free of charge (Section 8).
12. Number of cases in which leave for miscarriage was applied for but was rejected.
13. Number of cases in which additional leave for illness under Section 10 was granted.
14. Number of cases in which additional leave for illness under Section 10 was applied for
but was rejected.
N. B. - Full particulars of each case and reasons for the action taken under serials 7, 10, 12,
14, 17, and 18 should be given.
18. Number of women deprived of maternity benefit and/or medical bonus under proviso to
sub-section (2) of Section 12.
19. Number of cases in which payment was made on the order of the Competent Authority
or Inspector.
20. Remarks.
Signature of employer.
Date........
Form N
(See Rule 16)
Annual return under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 for the year ending on the 31st
December, 19.....................
Details of payment made during the year ending on the 31st, December 19 ... Name of
person to whom paid..............................amount paid.
1. Date of payment
2. Woman employee.
ected delivery.
10. Number of woman workers who absconded after receiving the first instalment of
maternity benefit.
13. Remarks
Date................
Signature of employer
Form O
(See Rule 16)
Annual return under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 for the year ending on the 31st
December, 19 ...................
Prosecutions under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 during the year ending on the
31st December, 19............
Date.......................
Signature of employer.