23.3.18

Gratuity Amendment Bill Gets RS Approval

Opposition parties took a break from their protest in the Well of the Rajya Sabha and passed the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill that will entitle a woman to 26 weeks of maternity leave from the present 12 weeks and also double the ceiling of gratuity from ₹10 to ₹20 lakh.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar moved the Bill for passage in the Rajya Sabha soon after the House met for the day. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu asked the protesting members to cooperate and pass the important legislation which has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha.

Gangwar requested the House to pass the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 without a discussion and it was cleared by a voice vote. Since the Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill, it will now go to the President for his assent. It will replace the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. As per the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, the ceiling for gratuity has been increased from ₹10 lakh- fixed in 2010-to ₹20 lakh. The new Act will also increase the maternity leave from 12 weeks- as mentioned in the 1972 Act to 26 weeks as per the amendment done in the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.

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