Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship inaugurated a 600 sq. metre daycare facility at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. Catering to children aged 6 months to 6 years, the facility aims to foster gender-balanced, employee-centric workplaces. Kaushal Bhawan is notable for its 5-Star GRIHA rating, highlighting its commitment to sustainable architecture.
Regulatory Framework for Workplace Creches
- Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: Mandates creche facilities for establishments with 50 or more employees. Allows female employees up to four visits daily.
- Factories Act, 1948 (Section 48): Historically mandated creches in factories employing over 30 women.
- Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996: Requires temporary creches at construction sites with over 50 female workers.
- National Minimum Standards (MWCD): Specifies a minimum of 10-12 sq. feet per child and 8-10 hours of daily operation to ensure standardized care.
Integration with National Schemes
- Palna Scheme (Mission Shakti): Provides funding for high-quality creches for children of working women.
- NEP 2020: Prioritizes Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children under 6 to strengthen foundational learning.
- Mission Shakti (Samarthya): Focuses on women’s economic empowerment through infrastructure like working women’s hostels and urban creches.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- GRIHA Rating: A national rating system for green buildings in India, evaluating environmental performance over the entire life cycle.
- Mandate: Workplace creches are integral to the government’s broader objective of enhancing Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR).