MATERNITY PROTECTION TO SAFEGUARD AND ENSURE - WOMEN'S RIGHT TO WORK, WOMEN'S RIGHT TO MOTHERHOOD - MEETING REPORT

A meeting called by BPNI, WABA and UNICEF ON Maternity Protection to Safeguard and Ensure Women's Right to Work and Women's Right to Motherhood was held on 8^th May 2000 at UNICEF and attended by 22 participants.

Representatives from ILO,CITU, National Commission for Women, Labour Ministry, Child Survival, VHAI, BPNI, UNICEF, Women Activists and members of BPNI participated actively.

While Mr. John Woodall, ILO introduced the group to the ILO Convention and Recommendation process and impact, Patrice Engle of UNICEF highlighted the Benefits of Breastfeeding with an emphasis on the cost of benefits to the entire country when women are supported to breastfeed. Cost of milk substitute: Rs.118 billion- less cost of improved diet for mother: Rs. 102 billion. Ranjana Nirula of the Trade Union,CITU talked of the plight of the unorganised sector and urged the government to take the steps to ensure better maternity protection for women and implement them.

Nirmala Selvam of BPNI presented the current demands of the World Alliance of Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in relation to Maternity Protection.

Maternity Protection 2000 ILO Convention should provide (i) Minimum 4 months paid maternity leave (ii) Breastfeeding breaks at workplace (iii) Breastfeeding/ breastmilk expression facility at the workplace (iv) Incurred cost- A social responsibility. She also emphasised that breastfeeding is a Human Right and is linked to other rights found in International agreements sighned by many countries around the world.

Mr. JP Shukla, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Labour says that " Government of India will find it difficult to ratify the ILO Convention which currently states 'every employed women' unless ESI is expanded to cover all sectors and all sizes and types of employment. When medical and maternity benefits are not only the employers responsibility then they will be willing to agree to better maternity protection.ESI should be for any organisation/ employer with one or more employees. Then all people will come under this net including a large no. of unorganized sector. Modification of ESI is a government's responsibility. In other words government needs to be pushed to revise ESI.

UNICEF, BPNI and CITU, Ranjana Nirula requested that GOI should support the ILO Convention and then work towards the ratification of the Convention.

State governments have adopted varying measures for maternity benefits--- Punjab and Haryana lead the way with 6 MONTHS paid maternity leave. Nursing breaks need to be expanded and implemented.

Public need to be made aware of existing laws and rights. Dr. Mira Shiva adds that public transport need to be mother and child friendly citing that the steps of buses are so high that women, children and the elderly/ disabled find it difficult to get or----.

All participants felt that better toilet facilities should be provided at all work places. Creche, nursing/breastmilk facility should be defined.   

Comments

Disseminate information regarding new convention through

Demand 6 months of leave - Seema Puri
Lack of complaints says Shukla
No letter from Trade Unions - Shukla
Change in attitude of male workers - Bhama
Create awareness an people's rights - PE, NS, SM
Duration of BF breasks - JCS
Transport to be women & baby friendly - M Shiva
Define specifications for facilities & toilets - Mira Shiva & NBM
Provide education to mothers and doctors regarding storage of milk - JCS
Update IMA Breastfeeding course - JCS & CK
Need Nutrition Supplements for working mothers - Child Survival
Lack of implementation of policies - group
Declining condition of work - Mira Shiva
How long can BM be stored in refrigerator - Mira Shiva
Work not covered ?
Focus on unorganized sector - RN
Pressure MPs to modify act - ESI  NS, JCS
How to define working/employed - JCS
I or more workers - Shukla ?
Creche facilities or site/facility for expression - CK
monitory committees should have women