LABOUR

Maternity leave. Between 1 and 7 August, as part of World Breastfeeding Week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), under the slogan “Protect Breastfeeding in the Workplace”, urged the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to guarantee by law time and adequate physical space for mothers to breastfeed their children. Along these lines, they call for 14 weeks of paid maternity leave to be granted, and for mothers to have at least two half-hour breaks to breastfeed after resuming their activities. PAHO, basing itself on Convention 183 and Recommendation 191 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), will continue promoting the application of these labour rights in the countries of the region.

According to Rubén Grajeda, PAHO’s regional advisor, although “many countries in the region have regulations on maternity and breastfeeding in their labour laws, few of these provisions are ambitious enough to ensure that women and children receive adequate support” in the workplace. Moreover, he explained that this undermines the principle of gender equality, as “many women must choose between economic stability or the health of their child”.

Against this background, the agency urges that the rights of mothers be protected in accordance with ILO Convention 183 and Recommendation 191. Thus, it is recommended to ensure at least 14 weeks of paid leave. Also, upon returning to work, it is advised to provide at least two 30-minute breaks per day for breastfeeding, with a guaranteed space at or near the workplace. It should be noted that currently only three countries in the region grant paid maternity leave of at least 18 weeks (Venezuela, Cuba and Chile), and eight others grant paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks.

Next steps

In view of the Pan American Health Organization’s call to protect maternity, and given the importance of the debate on gender equality worldwide, it is expected that the countries of the region will begin to promote, in the medium term, legal changes at the national level to guarantee proper protection of maternity and breastfeeding in all spheres of work.