CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu government extended maternity leave from 12 weeks to 365 days for female employees having a third child.
The third child’s leave is now equal to the first two children’s 365-day entitlement thanks to the improved benefit.

The announcement comes after Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar made a declaration in the state Assembly on Tuesday while requesting funding for his department. According to Sarathkumar, the choice was consistent with the government’s emphasis on women’s empowerment and social welfare.

• Maternity leave extension for third children

Married women who work for the government and have fewer than two living children are currently eligible for 365 days of maternity leave. Up to 12 weeks, or 84 days, of paid maternity leave are presently granted to employees who have two or more surviving children.

Sarathkumar said in the Assembly that, as part of the Tamil Nadu government’s focus on welfare and women’s empowerment, maternity leave for female government employees having a third child will be increased from 12 weeks to 365 days.

A government source clarified that, under the existing eligibility rules, regular female employees with fewer than two surviving children are entitled to 365 days of maternity leave.

• How Tamil Nadu expanded maternity leave

Tamil Nadu has gradually increased maternity leave for government employees over the years. The initial 90-day leave was extended to six months in 2011, followed by an increase to nine months in 2016. In July 2021, the entitlement was raised further to 365 days.

The changes were introduced under successive AIADMK and DMK-led governments.

However, in line with directives from the Apex Court and later amendments made by the state, women government employees with two or more surviving children remained entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave with full pay.

• Tamil Nadu’s declining fertility rate

Tamil Nadu is facing a continued drop in fertility levels along with a steadily ageing population, against which the latest policy change comes. The state’s total fertility rate currently stands at around 1.3 children per woman, below the replacement rate of 2.1 required to sustain the population.The fertility rate, which was 3.9 in 1971, declined to 2.7 in 1986 and further fell to 1.6 by 2017.

As birth rates decline and people live longer, Tamil Nadu is witnessing a significant shift towards an ageing population. The state had an estimated population of 7.2 crore in 2011, which is expected to rise to about 7.8 crore by the early 2030s before beginning to decline if fertility levels remain low.

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