Women members of the Air India workforce will now be eligible for 26 weeks of maternity leave as well as day-care support. Yes, the airline has revamped its policies and the benefits will be applicable to mothers adopting babies as well as commissioning mothers.
Starting April 2023, women pilots who are mothers, will be allowed to opt for convenient flights with quicker turnaround till their infants turn one. However, the option will be approved basis availability.
These benefits are being offered — as part of the ‘Making Our Mothers Soar’ or MOMS programme — to all the 5,000+ flying and non-flying women in the airline’s workforce.
As part of this returning mothers programme, the maternity leave, for both adopting mothers and even those who become mothers via surrogacy, has been increased from 12 to 26 weeks.
That is not all. Women can benefit from professional guidance on nutrition and avail day-care facility based on a co-pay model.
Counsellors will be available to women employees for consultation on topics related to mental health, childbirth, motherhood and guidance on return-to-work for new / expectant mothers.
Women make up about 40 per cent of Air India’s 11,000-strong staff.
It is reported that the carrier, which is owned by the Tata Group, has recently offered a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to the non-flying members of its workforce. The offer is open till the end of April 2023.
