Section Text
(1) Any woman employed in an
establishment and entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of this Chapter may give notice in
writing in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government, to her employer, stating that her
maternity benefit and any other amount to which she may be entitled under this Chapter may be paid to her
or to such person 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 eight 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 her delivery.
(4) On receipt of the notice, the employer shall permit such woman to absent herself from the
establishment during the period for which she receives the maternity benefit.
(5) 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 such proof as may be prescribed by the
Central Government that the woman is pregnant, and the amount due for the subsequent period shall be
paid by the employer to the woman within forty-eight hours of production of such proof as may be
prescribed by the Central Government that the woman has been delivered of a child.
(6) The failure to give notice under this section shall not disentitle a woman to maternity benefit or any
other amount under this Chapter if she is otherwise entitled to such benefit or amount and in any such case
an Inspector-cum-Facilitator may either of his own motion or on an application made to him by the woman,
order the payment of such benefit or amount within such period as may be specified in the order.