Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI)

National network of organizations and individuals dedicated to protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and optimal infant and young child feeding practices

 
IYCF Policy and Programme
::
Maternity Protection  


 
What is Maternity Protection
Key international documents call for provision of imaginative legislation to protect the breastfeeding rights of working women and further to monitor its application in consistency with ILO Maternity Protection Convention and recommendations. The ILO’s Maternity Protection Convention (MPC) 183 specifies that women should receive:
  • At least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave to all women workers;
  • One or more paid breastfeeding breaks daily or daily reduction of hours of work to breastfeed;
  • Job protection and non-discrimination for breastfeeding workers.
Maternity Protection : INDICATOR 9 in WBTi , an innovative initiative of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Asia for tracking assessing and monitoring the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding
know more visit http://www.worldbreastfeedingtrends.org/

 


Where we are

Key question : Is there legislation that meets International Labor Organization (ILO) standards for protecting and supporting breastfeeding among working mothers?
  Criteria Scoring
Check those apply.
2005 2008

  9.1) Women covered by the national legislation are allowed the following weeks of paid maternity leave

a. Any leave less than 14 weeks 0.5
b. 14 to 17weeks 1
c. 18 to 25 weeks 1.5
d. 26 weeks or more 2

2 0 0.5
  9.2) Women covered by the national legislation are allowed at least one breastfeeding break or reduction of work hours daily.
1 0 1

  9.3) Legislation obliges private sector employers of women in the country to give at least 14 weeks paid maternity leave and paid nursing breaks.

a. Unpaid break 0.5
b. Paid break 1

1 0 0
  9.4) There is provision in national legislation that provides for work site accommodation for breastfeeding and/or childcare in work places in the formal sector.
1 0 1

  9.5) Women in informal/unorganized and agriculture sector are:

a. accorded some protective measures 0.5
b. accorded the same protection as women working in the formal sector 1

1 0 0.5

  9.6) a. Information about maternity protection laws, regulations, or policies is made available to workers.

0.5 0 0.5
9.6) b. There is a system for monitoring compliance and a way for workers to complain if their entitlements are not provided.’ 0.5   0
  9.7) Paternity leave is granted in public sector for at least 3 days.
.5 0 0.5
  9.8) Paternity leave is granted in the private sector for at least 3 days.
.5 0 0
  9.9) There is legislation providing health protection for pregnant and breastfeeding workers and the legislation provides that they are informed about hazardous conditions in the workplace and provided alternative work at the same wage until they are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding.
1 0 0.5
  9.10) There is legislation prohibiting employment discrimination and assuring job protection for women workers during breastfeeding period.
.5 0 0.5
  9.11) ILO MPC No 183 has been ratified, or the country has a national law equal to or stronger than C183.
.5 0 0
9.12) The ILO MPC No 183 has been enacted, or the country has enacted provisions equal to or stronger than C183.
.5 0 0
  Total Score: ___/10__ 0 5

for details seeThe State of the World's Breastfeeding: http://www.worldbreastfeedingtrends.org/countrysubmit.php?country=India

 


What we are doing (As BPNI)

Enhancing the value of maternity
benefit scheme: Making breastfeeding counseling a specific “service”, which is budgeted and coordinated in the plan.
more>>
Workshop on “Maternity Entitlements: Theory and Practice”
Convention on the Children's Right to Food, April 7th-9th, 2006, Hyderabad
Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) organized an interactive session with journalists on "Maternity Benefits for Working Women" in organized and unorganized sector supported by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) on 25th May 2001at Indian Women ' s Press Corps, Delhi.
MATERNITY PROTECTION TO SAFEGUARD AND ENSURE - WOMEN'S RIGHT TO WORK, WOMEN'S RIGHT TO MOTHERHOOD was held on 8th May 2000 at UNICEF
   
   



Supporting Documents

Maternity Benefit ACT, 1961
   
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