ILO International Labour Organization [to 1 August 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm

.
World Breastfeeding Week
“Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s Make it Work!”
“Ensuring adequate maternity protection and time and space for breastfeeding at work is not only the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense,” says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
Statement | 31 July 2015
The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week “Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s Make it Work! ” highlights the importance of supporting working mothers to breastfeed. I am pleased to endorse this workplace initiative and to align the ILO’s support with that of UNICEF and the WHO.

Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of children’s survival, health, growth and development. Ensuring adequate maternity protection and time and space for breastfeeding at work is not only the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense. Women who have adequate maternity benefits value their employers, leading to job satisfaction and loyalty. Likewise, breastfed children fall sick less often, resulting in fewer days that care givers are absent from work.

Workplace action has a key role in increasing breastfeeding rates.
The International Labour Organization has adopted three maternity protection Conventions that stipulate protective measures for pregnant women and for women who have recently given birth. One hundred countries worldwide now provide at least 14 weeks maternity leave in accordance with the ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183) . Additionally, provisions are made in at least 121 countries for breaks, mostly paid, or reductions in daily working hours for nursing mothers…