The central government has decided to to increase the maternity leave for private sector employees from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks.



"Labour Ministry had written to the Labour Ministry asking that the maternity leave be extended taking into account the six months of breastfeeding that is required post childbirth. The Labour Ministry has agreed to increase it to six-and-a-half months," Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said on Monday.



According to reports, the ministry is also planning to approach the Labour Ministry to further extend the maternity leave to 32 weeks or 8 months, where by women employed in private sector are entitled to receive full salary and other benefits during the period of leave.



Even though the move is a welcome step many including labour unions have expressed concerns that it could affect the job prospects of women in the private sector in the long run.