Child Care Leave – A recap and compilation of orders issued

On 27.08.2012, Finance Ministry issued clarification that Child Care Leave should be considered at par with any kind of leave during the period of which an employee will be entitled for House Rent Allowance for the first 180 days of leave. It was also envisaged that child card leave exceeding 180 days would require required certificate as stipulated for any other kind of leave.

In light of the above, We are giving below a recap of introduction of child care leave during 2008 and further developments as bulleted points.

Details regarding Child Care Leave

• Child Care Leave can be granted to women employees having minor children below the age of 18 years, for a maximum period of 2 years (i.e. 730 days) during their entire service, for taking care of up to two children whether for rearing or to look after any of their needs like examination, sickness etc. Child Care Leave shall not be admissible if the child is eighteen years of age or older.
• The Conditions regarding spell of CCL, imposed upon by the Government are that it may not be granted in more than 3 spells in a calendar year and that CCL may not be granted for less than 15 days.
• As in the case of Earned Leave, we can prefix or suffix Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted holidays with the Child Care Leave. Under no circumstances can any employee proceed on CCL without prior approval of the Leave sanctioning authority.
• During the period of such leave, the women employees shall be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
• Child Care Leave shall not be debited against the leave account. There is also no condition that CCL can be availed only if the employee concerned has no Earned Leave at her credit, Child Care Leave may also be allowed for the third year as leave not due (without production of medical certificate).
• The intention of the Pay Commission in recommending Child Care Leave for women employees was to facilitate women employees to take care of their children at the time of need. However, this does not mean that CCL should disrupt the functioning of Central Government offices. The nature of this leave was envisaged to be the same as that of earned leave.
• LTC cannot be availed during Child Care Lcave as Child Care Leave is granted for the specific purpose of taking care of a minor child for rearing or for looking after any other needs of the child during examination, sickness etc.