Pune techie laid off by design platform while on maternity leave

The incident underscores ongoing workplace vulnerabilities faced by women in India's information technology industry, particularly those navigating the intersection of career progression and motherhood. The employee, who worked for Canva's India operations, found herself without employment during what should have been a protected period under Indian maternity benefit laws.

Maternity leave protections in India are governed by the Maternity Benefit Act, which mandates that pregnant women and new mothers receive job security and paid leave. The termination raises questions about compliance with these legal safeguards and the implementation of employment laws across multinational technology companies operating in the country.

The severance package offered to the employee has provided temporary financial relief as she navigates her transition. However, the broader implications of such layoffs during protected leave periods continue to spark debate among labor advocates and employment rights groups about workplace fairness and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.

This case joins a growing list of documented layoffs in India's tech sector, where numerous multinational companies have undertaken significant workforce reductions in recent years. Employment experts have raised concerns about whether such retrenchments adequately account for special circumstances such as maternity leave and other protected statuses.