In regards to the mom wokring at a hospital, who was having trouble getting
her breaks in order to pump, someone remarked that she didn't know of, or
see any case where breastfeeding moms should get breaks above and beyond
their regular legal breaks, in order to pump.

I want to remind all that the ILO standards DOES include minimum standards
for breastfeeding breaks.
In Canada, the Canadian Labour Standards Review Commission is currently
holding meetings.  Johanna Bergerman, Chair of the BCC's Infant Nutrition
Committee, represented the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada at a meeting
of the commission in Saskatoon, SK in February. She raised the issue of
breastfeeding breaks and recommended that standards for nursing breaks in
Canada meet the minimum standards as recommended by the revised
International Labour Organization (ILO) standards 2001 (see below).    The
Commission showed considerable interest, and they strongly recommended that
the BCC prepare a submission to the Commission by September, 2005.

ILO Standards:

BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS
Article 10
1. A woman shall be provided with the right to one or more daily breaks or a
daily reduction of hours of work to breastfeed her child.
2. The period during which nursing breaks or the reduction of daily hours of
work are allowed, their number, the duration of nursing breaks and the
procedures for the reduction of daily hours of work shall be determined by
national law and practice.
These breaks or the reduction of daily hours of work shall be counted as
working time and remunerated accordingly.

So it IS something we are working on here in Canada.  Also, currently the
Saskatchewan Union of Nurses contract provides for breastfeeding breaks,
above and beyond regular breaks.  Last year, our provincial Labour Minister
was in attendance at the grand opening of a pumping and "mother's room" in
our largest hospital, for use by patients or employees who need to pump
while visiting, staying or working at the hospital.

Janice Reynolds
Saskatchewan, Canada

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