Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, an employee is disqualified from receiving maternity benefit or is liable to have it forfeited if, during the period for which she is receiving such benefit, she does which of the following?

Section 59 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 provides that if a woman works in any establishment during the period for which she is in receipt of maternity benefit, she shall forfeit her claim to the maternity benefit for such period. The underlying object of maternity benefit is to enable the woman to rest and recover during and after pregnancy without loss of wages; hence, working during this period defeats the purpose and results in forfeiture. The Code also entitles a woman to a medical bonus and, in the case of miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy, to leave with wages for a prescribed period. This preserves the protective character of the maternity benefit provisions.