Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017?

1. Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave.

2. Enterprises with creches must allow the mother minimum six creche visits daily.

3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: 3 only

Let us analyze each statement regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 to evaluate its correctness:

Statement 1 is incorrect:
The Act increased the paid maternity leave duration from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for female employees. Out of these 26 weeks, a maximum of 8 weeks can be taken prior to the expected date of delivery, and the remaining period can be taken post-delivery. It does not provide for a rigid 3 months (approx. 13 weeks) pre-delivery and 3 months post-delivery division.

Statement 2 is incorrect:
The Act mandates that every establishment employing 50 or more employees must provide a crèche facility. Furthermore, the employer is required to allow the mother four visits a day to the crèche, which includes her regular rest intervals, not six visits daily.

Statement 3 is correct:
Under the amended Act, the benefit of 26 weeks of paid maternity leave is available only for the first two surviving children. For women who have two or more surviving children, the paid maternity leave entitlement is reduced to 12 weeks (maximum 6 weeks pre-delivery and 6 weeks post-delivery).

Therefore, only Statement 3 is correct, making 3 only the correct answer.