12-Month maternity Leave, 1 Month Paternity Leave in Sikkim

New Delhi: Sikkim government has decided to provide 12-month maternity leave and one-month paternity leave to its employees for better care of newborn children. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang declared this on Wednesday.  Addressing the annual general meeting of the Sikkim State Civil Service Officers’ Association (SSCSOA), the Sikkim CM said changes will be made in the service rules to provide maternity and paternity benefits.

Both the maternity and paternity leaves will be paid holidays for the beneficiaries.

According to the Maternity Benefit Act 1961, a working woman is entitled to 6 months, or 26 weeks, of paid maternity leave.

It may be noted that Sikkim has the lowest population in India at around 6.32 lakh.