Sikkim becomes first nation to allow govt employees 2 months maternity and 1-month paternity leave

Digital Desk: Sikkim is the first state in the nation to offer government employees a 12-month maternity leave and a one-month paternity leave.

Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang said that more information about the extended leave would be issued shortly.

Addressing to the Sikkim State Civil Service Officers' Association (SSCSOA) annual general meeting in Gangtok, Tamag announced that the service rules would be altered to include the benefit.

He continued by saying that this benefit will allow government workers to take better care for their families and children.

A working woman is entitled to a paid maternity leave of six months, or 26 weeks, for the first two children and three months for any additional children under the terms of the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961.

Additionally, male workers will be given a one-month paternity leave. Earlier provisions of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rule 551 (A), 1972, on the other hand, only permitted male employees with fewer than two children to take paternity leaves of just 15 days, which could be taken between 15 days before to the child's birth and up to 6 months following the delivery.