THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has given 180 days of paid maternity leave to those working in government and semi-government institutions on a contract basis. It will have retroactive effect from 2018. Necessary amendments will be made in the Terms of Service accordingly. Women employees were given six months of maternity leave as per the court order dated February 27, 2018. But female employees with a tenure of less than one year were not previously eligible for the benefit.