Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!

More than half a billion working women are not given essential maternity protections in national laws
Just 20% of countries require employers to provide employees with paid breaks and facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk
Fewer than half of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

Women should not have to choose between breastfeeding their children and their work.

World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year, supported by WHO, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners. This year’s theme will focus on breastfeeding and work, providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding – maternity leave for a minimum of 18 weeks, ideally more than 6 months, and workplace accommodations after this point. These are urgent issues for ensuring women can breastfeed as long as they wish to do so: more than half a billion working women are not given basic maternity provisions; many more find themselves unsupported when they go back to work.

Making breastfeeding at work, work, makes societies work! Breastfeeding provides vital health and nutritional benefits for children with positive lifelong impacts, building healthier populations – and workforces – for the future.
Women shouldn’t have to choose between breastfeeding their children and their jobs. Breastfeeding support is possible regardless of workplace, sector, or contract type.
Effective maternity protections improve children’s and women’s health and increase breastfeeding. And yet, at present, more than half a billion working women lack access to vital maternity provisions; many more find themselves unsupported when they go back to work.
All women everywhere – no matter their work – should have
- At least 18 weeks, preferably more than 6 months, paid maternity leave;
- Paid time off for breastfeeding or expressing milk upon returning to work;
- Flexible return to work options.

Policymakers can make breastfeeding and work, work by

Legislating at least 18 weeks, preferably more than 6 months, paid maternity leave
Ensuring employers provide paid time off and a dedicated space for breastfeeding or expressing milk after this period
Ensuring all women have access to maternity entitlements, including those in the informal sector or on limited contracts
Tackling employment-related discrimination against women, including during and after pregnancy and birth

Employers and managers can make breastfeeding and work, work by

Providing maternity leave that – at a minimum – meets national requirements
Providing time and space for breastfeeding or expressing and storing breastmilk
Providing options that reduce the separation of women from their babies after maternity leave, such as:
- Flexible work schedules
- On-site childcare
- Teleworking
- Part-time work
- Letting mothers bring their babies to work