This document outlines maternity benefit provisions for women workers in Bangladeshi law. Key points include: - Employers cannot employ women during the 8 weeks following delivery and women cannot work during this period. - Employers cannot employ women in arduous work from 10 weeks before the expected delivery date until 10 weeks after delivery. - Women workers are entitled to paid maternity benefit for the 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after delivery if they have worked at least 6 months for the employer. - The document details procedures for claiming and paying maternity benefit and restrictions on terminating a woman's employment during pregnancy and in the months surrounding delivery.

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CHAPTER IV
MATERNITY BENEFIT
45.Prohibition of engagement of women worker in work in certain
cases.(1) No employer shall knowingly engage a woman in his establishment
during the 8 (eight) weeks immediately following the day of her delivery.
(2) No woman shallwork in any establishment during the 8 (eight) weeks
immediately following the day of her delivery.
(3) No employer shall employ any woman for doing any work which is of an
arduous nature or which involves long hours of standing or which is likely to
adversely affect her health, if
(a) he has reason to believe or if the woman has informed him that she is
likely to deliver a child within 10 (ten) weeks;
(b) tothe knowledge of the employer the woman has delivered a child
within the preceding 10 (ten) weeks:
Provided that in the case of tea plantation worker, a woman worker may do
work of a light nature if and for so long as the medical practitioner of the concerned
1The word “and handicapped workers” was added by section 20(a) of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act No. XXXII of 2010).
2The word “and handicapped workers” were added by section 20(b) of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act No. XXXII of 2010).
3Sub-section (3) was added by section 20(c) of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act No. XXXII of 2010).
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tea estate certifies that she is physically fit to doso; and,for the days that she
does such work, she shall be paid for such work wages at the rate prescribed under
the existing law, and such wages shallbe payable in addition to the maternity
benefit.
46.Right to maternity benefit and liability for its payment.(1) Every
woman worker shall be entitled to maternity benefit from her employer for the
period of 8 (eight) weeks1 preceding the expected day of her delivery and 8 (eight)
weeks immediately following the day of her delivery, and her employer shall be
bound to give her this benefit:
Provided that a woman shall not be entitled to such benefit unless she has
worked under her employer for a period of not less than 6 (six) months immediately
preceding the day of her delivery.
(2) No such benefit shallbe payable toa woman if at the time of her delivery
she has 2 (two) or more surviving children, but in that case she may enjoy any leave
which is due to her.
47.Procedure regarding payment of maternity benefit.(1) If a pregnant
woman is entitled to maternity benefit under this Act, she shall, on any day,
give notice either orally or in writing to her employer that she expects to be
confined within 8 (eight) weeks next following and the name of the person who
shall receive the payment of the benefit in case of her death shall also be included in
the notice.
(2) If a woman has not given any such notice, she shall inform her employer
about her giving birth to a child by giving such notice within 7 (seven) days of her
giving birth to child.
(3) After receipt of a notice under sub-section (1) or (2),the employer shall
permit the concerned woman to absent herself from work,
(a) in the case of a notice under sub-section (1),from the day following
the date of notice;
(b) in the case of a notice under sub-section (2),from the day of delivery
until 8 (eight) weeks after the day of delivery.
1 According to sub-rule (1) of rule 197 of the Bangladesh Service Rules (Part-1), the period of maternity leave is 6 (six) months, vide S.R.O.
No. 05/file No. 07.175.008.08.00.001.2000/Law/2011.
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2. (4) An employer shall pay maternity benefit toa woman in any of the
following ways as that woman may desire, namely:
(a) where a certificate from a registered medical practitioner is produced
stating that the woman is expected to be confined within 8 (eight)
weeks the maternity benefit payable for 8 (eight) weeks preceding
delivery shallbe paid within 3 (three) working days following the
production of the certificate, and such benefit payable for the
remaining period shall be paid within 3 (three) working days of the
production of proof that she has given birth to a child; or
(b) maternity benefit payable for 8 (eight) weeks preceding and including
the date of delivery shallbe paid within 3 (three) working days
following the production of proof to the employer that she has given
birth to a child, and such benefit payable for the remaining period
shall be paid within 8 (eight) weeks following the production of such
proof; or
(c) maternity benefit payable for the whole of such period shall be paid
within three working days following the production of proof that she
has given birth to a child:
Provided that a woman shall not be entitled to any maternity benefit or any
part thereof, the payment of which is dependent upon the production of proof under
this sub-section that she has given birth to a child, unless such proof is produced
within 3 (three) months of the day of her delivery.
(5) The proof which is required to be produced under sub-section (4) shallbe
either an attested extract from a birth register maintained under the Births and
Deaths Registration Act, 2004 (Act No. XXIX of 2004) or a certificate given by a
registered medical practitioner or such other proof as may be acceptable to the
employer.
48.Amount of maternity benefit.(1) The maternity benefit which is
payable under this Act shallbe paid at the rate of daily, weekly or monthly average
wages, as the case may be, calculated in the manner laid down in sub-section (2),
and such payment shall be made wholly in cash.
(2) For the purpose of sub-section (1),the daily, weekly or monthly average
wages shall be calculated by dividing the total wages earned by the concerned
woman during 3 (three) months immediately preceding the date on which she gives
notice under this Chapter by the number of days she actually worked during that
period.
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49.Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman.(1) If
a woman entitled to maternity benefit under this Chapter dies at the time of
her delivery or during 8 (eight) weeks following thereof, the employer shall
pay the amount of maternity benefit,if the newly born child survives, to the person
who takes care of the child, and if the child does not survive to the person
nominated by her under this Chapter,or if there is no such nominee,to her legal
representative.
(2) If a woman dies during the period for which she is entitled to maternity
benefit but before giving birth to a child, the employer shall be liable to
pay such benefit for the period preceding and including the day of her death,
provided that if any such benefit already paid to her exceeds the amount
of such benefit now payable shallnot be recoverable, and if any amount in this
regard is due to the employer till the time of death of the woman, he shall pay it to
the nominee of the woman under this Chapter,or if there is no nominee, to her legal
representative.
50.Restrictions on termination of employment of a woman in certain

3. cases.If any notice or order of discharge, dismissal, removal or otherwise
termination of employment is given by the employer to a woman worker within a
period of 6 (six) months before and 8 (eight) weeks after her delivery and such
notice or order is given without sufficient cause, she shall not be deprived of any
maternity benefit towhich she would be entitled under this Chapter if such notice or
order has not been given