Maternity Benefit in Bangladesh
Key Provisions:
- Protection during Pregnancy and Post-Delivery:
- Prohibition of Employment: Employers are prohibited from employing women during the eight weeks following childbirth.
- Restrictions on Arduous Work: Pregnant women and women who have recently given birth cannot be assigned work that is physically demanding or potentially harmful to their health.
- Maternity Leave: Every woman worker is entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave with full pay. This leave encompasses the period before and after childbirth.
- Eligibility: To be eligible for maternity benefits, a woman must have worked for the employer for at least six months prior to her delivery.
- Payment: Maternity benefits are typically paid in cash. The amount is calculated based on the woman’s average daily, weekly, or monthly wages.
- Payment Procedures:
- Women must inform their employers about their pregnancy and expected delivery date.
- Employers are required to pay maternity benefits within specific timelines after receiving the necessary documentation (e.g., medical certificates, birth certificates).
- Protection from Termination: Women cannot be terminated from employment during their pregnancy or within eight weeks of childbirth without sufficient cause.
Key Considerations:
- Definition of “Maternity Leave”: Maternity leave is considered a period of continuous service for the purposes of employment benefits.
- Focus on Women’s Health and Well-being: These provisions aim to protect the health and well-being of women workers during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Protection against Discrimination: The prohibition on termination during pregnancy safeguards women’s employment rights.
Mazharul Islam,
Corporate Legal Practitioner,
Member of Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
He can be reached at mazhar@insightez.com
