The Challenge

Many women workers were unaware of their legal rights under the Maternity Benefit Act, including entitlement to maternity leave, wage protection during the leave period, and the obligations of employers. Limited awareness often resulted in underutilization of benefits and inconsistent implementation at the workplace.

CRE's Approach

CRE conducted worker awareness training in local languages to educate employees on their rights under the Maternity Benefit Act. Beyond training, CRE facilitated the development and implementation of a comprehensive maternity benefits policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in English, Tamil, and Hindi to ensure accessibility for all workers.

The Outcome

The factory successfully implemented the policy and established a transparent process for administering maternity benefits. Employee benefits availed under the Act were systematically recorded, reviewed, and discussed during Worker Committee meetings, enhancing worker confidence, compliance, and workplace well-being while strengthening the organization's social responsibility commitments.

Impact: Increased awareness of maternity rights, strengthened compliance with labour laws, and improved trust between workers and management through transparent implementation and review mechanisms.