I can't locate a copy of our current contract as it was re-negotiated last year in a completely new pay system, but all female public employees in Norway (and we have a humongous public sector) have long had the right to up to two hours per workday off with pay as long as they were breastfeeding. There was no age limit for the child; this provision was from the time when our maternity leave was only 12 weeks, in contrast to the nearly one year we have now, and we have managed to keep it in the contract ever since. That leave is also at full pay, BTW, and it is not subject to contract, it is set by law. BF breaks are also set by law, but the law only provides for up to one hour per day, and says nothing about pay. I believe many private employees have this same provision, but I am not that familiar with current contracts in the private sector. For the record, virtually all women working in the health services are covered by this contract as we are all public employees. Even with all of this, I know that many women feel it is difficult to make use of their right to reduced hours at full pay, especially those who BF after the 12 months which are the current recommendation. 'Thereafter as mother and child wish' is the wording, instead of just using the WHO wording, which of course is something like 'throughout the first two years and thereafter as mother and child wish'. Rachel Myr Kristiansand, Norway *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html