Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said that his government will give 12-month maternity leave and 1-month paternity leave to its employees. The move is targeted at benefitting government employees as it will enable them to take better care of their children and families.
The announcement was made by the CM while addressing the annual general meeting of the Sikkim State Civil Service Officers’ Association (SSCSOA), and the modalities are yet to be finalised. The CM added that further details will be notified soon, with the changes set to be made in the service rules to provide the benefit.
According to section 5(3) of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, a working woman is entitled to 6 months, or 26 weeks, of paid maternity leave. The proposed change aims at increasing the same to 12 months.
As a sidenote, Mr. Tamang added that the officers are the backbone of the state administration, contributing significantly to the growth and development of Sikkim and its people. He said that there has been a significant focus on streamlining the promotion process for civil services officers, leading to an increase in the number of promotions.
He went on to congratulate all new IAS and SCS (Sikkim Civil Services) officers, and wished them well for a successful career.
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