Fighting for mum’s rights

In Malaysia, maternity protection at the workplace exists to a certain extent. Our labour laws currently allow 60 days of paid maternity leave, although the MTUC has put forth a memorandum to the Minister of Women and Family Development to ask for an additional 30 days. The duration of maternity leave is important so that mothers have enough time to establish breastfeeding at home.

In the same memorandum presented in 2000, MTUC also asked for the setting up of childcare centres at the workplace, as well as a suitable area for mothers to express their milk. MTUC’s requests were made in an effort to raise the standards of maternity protection in Malaysia to the level that has been set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The ILO Maternity Protection Convention includes provisions for 14 weeks paid maternity leave, one or more daily breaks or a daily reduction of hours of work (to be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly) for breastfeeding, and adequate, hygienic facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk.

At the very least, an expressing facility should consist of a small, clean space with a chair, and a screen, curtain or door for privacy. This facility should be located near to employees. Mothers should have access to clean running water and secure storage space, such as a cooler box or a cupboard, for expressed milk. More elaborate facilities may include a refrigerator or an electric outlet.

Although certain government agencies and multi-national corporations in Malaysia have set up special expressing facilities, other companies merely encourage their employees to make do with whatever is available. Pantries, prayer rooms, locker rooms, empty offices and even women’s toilets become makeshift breastfeeding rooms. MTUC believes that if enough female employees demand for proper expressing facilities, their employers or management will act accordingly.

In line with this, the MTUC has made efforts to educate women and men about the importance of breastfeeding and women’s rights in the workplace. “We empower women so that they know what to ask for. Even men should know about these issues so that they can educate their wives, or mothers, or children. These are not just women’s issues, they are workers’ issues,” says Noorlaila.

The revised maternity protection package put forth by the MTUC is still under consideration by the Ministry. As long as these provisions are not legally recognised, employers will not be compelled to protect breastfeeding employees, which in turn, will contribute to the further decline of breastfeeding in the country.

As pointed out by the Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng, the breastfeeding rate In Malaysia declined by 12% from the 1950s to the 1970s. Today, more women have started breastfeeding again, thanks to efforts in increasing the public’s awareness. It would be a shame if mothers cannot continue providing the best nourishment for their children merely due to the lack of a proper support system.