Maternity, Gratuity & Wages Acts — Set 4

Correct Answer: B. Central Government

The National Floor Level Minimum Wage is set by the Central Government. It serves as a recommended minimum that states should not fall below when fixing their minimum wages. Under the Code on Wages, 2019 (which has replaced the Minimum Wages Act), the Central Government sets a floor wage taking into account the minimum living standards. States can set higher minimum wages but not lower than the floor.

Correct Answer: C. Imprisonment up to 1 year or fine up to Rs.5000 or both

Under Section 21 of the Maternity Benefit Act, any employer who dismisses or discharges a woman worker during or on account of her absence during maternity leave is punishable with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to Rs.5,000 or both. This strong penal provision deters employers from penalizing women for taking maternity leave. Wrongfully dismissed women can also seek reinstatement.

Correct Answer: B. 10th

Under Section 5 of the Payment of Wages Act, wages shall be paid before the 7th day of the following month if an establishment employs fewer than 1,000 workers. For establishments employing 1,000 or more workers, wages must be paid before the 10th day of the following month. This provision ensures timely payment of wages. Late payment of wages is an offence under the Act.

Correct Answer: C. 1961

The Maternity Benefit Act was enacted in 1961. It was one of the early legislative measures to protect women workers in India. The Act provides for paid maternity leave and other benefits to women employed in factories, mines, plantations, and other establishments. It has been significantly amended in 2017 to increase benefits. It complements the ESI maternity benefit for covered workers.

Correct Answer: D. Resignation before 5 years without disability

Under Section 4 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, gratuity becomes payable on superannuation, retirement, death, disablement, or termination. Resignation after completing five years also triggers gratuity. However, resignation before five years (without death or disablement) does not trigger gratuity payment. This is the key exception to the gratuity entitlement rule.

Correct Answer: C. Time work, piece work, or a combination

Under Section 3 of the Minimum Wages Act, minimum wages may be fixed for time work (hourly, daily, or monthly) or for piece work. The appropriate government can also fix a guaranteed time rate for piece-rated workers. This flexibility allows the Act to be applied across different types of industries and employment relationships. Both organized and unorganized sector employers must comply.

Correct Answer: B. 10 workers

The correct answer is '10 workers'. 10 workers correctly answers the question about the maternity benefit act applies to establishments employing at least how many workers. This is an important fact in the topic of Maternity Benefit, Gratuity and Wages Acts, which is regularly tested in competitive exams such as RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, UPSC, and state PSC examinations. A thorough understanding of Maternity Benefit, Gratuity and Wages Acts helps candidates score well in the General Knowledge section.

Correct Answer: A. 12 weeks

After the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017, women who already have two or more surviving children are entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. Women expecting their first or second child are entitled to 26 weeks. This differential is intended to balance women's rights with population policy. The amendment brought India among countries with the best maternity leave policies globally.

Correct Answer: B. 80 days

Section 5 of the Maternity Benefit Act requires that a woman must have actually worked in the establishment for a period of not less than 80 days in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery. This ensures that only women with substantial employment history can claim the benefit. The 80-day qualifying period is counted for actual days worked, not counting days of absence.

Correct Answer: D. All of the above

The correct answer is 'All of the above'. All of the above correctly answers the question about the maternity benefit act 2017 amendment introduced which new provision for women employees. This is an important fact in the topic of Maternity Benefit, Gratuity and Wages Acts, which is regularly tested in competitive exams such as RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, UPSC, and state PSC examinations. A thorough understanding of Maternity Benefit, Gratuity and Wages Acts helps candidates score well in the General Knowledge section.