What working women What working women need to breastfeedneed to breastfeed

Proximity to childProximity to child TimeTime Motivation and skillMotivation and skill

Worker’s rightsWorker’s rights

1st ILO convention – 19191st ILO convention – 1919 The Maternity Protection The Maternity Protection

Convention,Convention,

2000 (No. 183), is the most recent2000 (No. 183), is the most recent

standard accompanied by the standard accompanied by the MaternityMaternity

Protection Recommendation, 2000Protection Recommendation, 2000

(No. 191). (No. 191).

Entitlements Entitlements

to all employed women, no matter to all employed women, no matter what occupation or type of what occupation or type of undertaking, including those women undertaking, including those women employed in atypical forms of work employed in atypical forms of work who often received no protectionwho often received no protection

14 weeks of leave 14 weeks of leave Recommendation No. 191 suggests Recommendation No. 191 suggests

that this period be at least 18 weeks that this period be at least 18 weeks the right to return to the same work, or the right to return to the same work, or

one with the same pay, upon return one with the same pay, upon return from the leave (Articles 4 and 5) from the leave (Articles 4 and 5)

Internationally..Internationally..

Bulgaria - 45 days 100% paid sick leave prior Bulgaria - 45 days 100% paid sick leave prior the due date, 2 years paid leave, and 1 the due date, 2 years paid leave, and 1 additional year of unpaid leave. additional year of unpaid leave.

Sweden, Norway, Estonia - 18 months' paid Sweden, Norway, Estonia - 18 months' paid leave per child, the cost being shared leave per child, the cost being shared between employer and Statebetween employer and State

Canada - 35 weeks divided between the two Canada - 35 weeks divided between the two parents, which can be expanded to a year, parents, which can be expanded to a year, paid for by the Employment Insurance systempaid for by the Employment Insurance system

UK - 52 weeks of maternity leave, 39 weeks UK - 52 weeks of maternity leave, 39 weeks of which is paid, with the first six weeks paid of which is paid, with the first six weeks paid at 90% of full pay and the remainder at a at 90% of full pay and the remainder at a fixed ratefixed rate

India India

MBA 1961, ESI Act 1941- MBA 1961, ESI Act 1941- 12 12 weeks paid maternity leave weeks paid maternity leave

5th Pay Commission, 1997 - For 5th Pay Commission, 1997 - For Govt employees Govt employees

4 ½ months4 ½ months

15 days paternity leave.15 days paternity leave.

In Punjab and Haryana 6 monthsIn Punjab and Haryana 6 months

Who does this (not) Who does this (not) apply to?apply to? Applies to less than 10% of all Applies to less than 10% of all

working women!!working women!! More than 93% working women More than 93% working women

work in the informal sector where work in the informal sector where there is no employer-employee there is no employer-employee relationshiprelationship

These are the very women who These are the very women who have children with high have children with high mortality….who need it mostmortality….who need it most

Consider Consider

Domestic workersDomestic workers Landless agricultural workersLandless agricultural workers Small scale home based workers Small scale home based workers

(‘bindi’ worker, embroiderer etc (‘bindi’ worker, embroiderer etc etc)etc)

VendorsVendors

Challenges Challenges

What system for identificationWhat system for identification Who will pay?Who will pay? How will money be collected?How will money be collected? What delivery mechanism?What delivery mechanism? How will ‘leave’ be ensured?How will ‘leave’ be ensured? What redressal mechanisms? What redressal mechanisms?

(private sector, SEZs, contractual (private sector, SEZs, contractual workers)workers)

Some legislative Some legislative measuresmeasures Social security bill for Social security bill for

unorganised workersunorganised workers Construction workers’ actConstruction workers’ act

Some mechanismsSome mechanisms

Direct cash transfers (MR Direct cash transfers (MR SchemeTamil Nadu, NMBS)SchemeTamil Nadu, NMBS)

Cess (construction workers act, Cess (construction workers act, 1%)1%)

Tripartite Boards for Tripartite Boards for implementationimplementation

Other enabling Other enabling facilitiesfacilities Creches on WorksitesCreches on Worksites Breastfeeding breaks: Breastfeeding breaks: Over 90 ILO Over 90 ILO

member States provide nursing breaks member States provide nursing breaks of at least one hour under national of at least one hour under national legislationlegislation

Privacy to breastfeed in public places – Privacy to breastfeed in public places – ‘women and child’ rooms at stations, ‘women and child’ rooms at stations, airports etcairports etc

Easier commutingEasier commuting