Providing more supportive workplaces for working mothers

Exclusive breastfeeding rates have surged by 10 percentage points over the last decade, reaching 48% worldwide, according to a joint report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). To further drive progress, these agencies urge workplaces to promote and support breastfeeding, with the aim of achieving the global target of 70% by 2030.

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, emphasised the pivotal role that supportive workplaces play in ensuring continued breastfeeding rates for women returning to work, saying, “Evidence shows that while breastfeeding rates drop significantly for women when they return to work, that negative impact can be reversed when workplaces facilitate mothers to continue to breastfeed their babies.”

Family-friendly policies such as paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks, and dedicated lactation rooms benefit working women, their families, and employers alike, the United Nations (UN) officials said. These initiatives reduce absenteeism, improve female employee retention, and minimise hiring and training costs.

READ MORE: Getting women back to work by addressing childcare needs 

Recognising the vital role of all working mothers, including those in the informal sectors or on temporary contracts, the UN agencies have called upon governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector to extend their support. The appeal includes providing sufficient paid leave for working parents and caregivers to cater to the needs of their young children, alongside increased investments in breastfeeding support policies and programmes across all settings.