Patricia Watson, Staff Reporter
WORKING WOMEN in Jamaica are hoping that the country will ratify a new Convention on Maternity Protection which would vastly improve the current one.
"I hope they do ratify it as it is a good move in terms of women's rights in the workplace," said Maxine, a self styled feminist said.
According to her, the recommendations would "help to improve and maintain the bonding relationship between the woman and her child."
At the 88th session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held between May 30 and June 15, delegates voted to adopt a new international Convention on Maternity Protection by a vote of 304 for and 22 against, with 116 abstentions.
Under the new convention, maternity leave will be extended from 12 to 14 weeks. In addition, the convention states that "leave shall be provided before or after the maternity leave period in the case of illness, complications or risk of complications arising out of pregnancy or childbirth".
The nature and duration of the leave is to be specified by the national law of each country.
It went on to state too that "cash benefits shall be provided, in accordance with national laws and regulations or in any other manner consistent with national practice, to women who are absent from work on leave."
The benefits are to be "at a level which ensures that the woman can maintain herself and her child in proper conditions of health and with a suitable standard of living". Also, benefits should be provided through "compulsory social insurance funds or public funds, or in a manner to be determined by national law and practice. An employer shall not be individually liable for the direct cost of any such monetary benefit to a woman employed by him or her without that employer's specific agreement except in cases where national law or practice provides for other provisions".
On the issue of employment protection, the convention stated that "it shall be unlawful for an employer to terminate the employment of a woman during her pregnancy or absence on leave or during a period following her return to work to be prescribed by national laws or regulations, except on grounds unrelated to the pregnancy or birth of the child and its consequences for nursing".
But probably the most important recommendation made in the convention is that which pertains to breastfeeding.
Breast feeding right
The new convention says that "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...these breaks or the reduction of daily hours of work shall be counted as working time and remunerated accordingly".
Bureau of Women's Affair's Executive Director Dr. Glenda Simms said she wholeheartedly supported the new convention, adding that women should have a right to breastfeed their children at a day-care centre at work.
"Many workplaces in other countries set up child care so that mothers can view their babies and during their breaks, they are allowed to breastfeed the baby or rooms are set up where the woman can pump her milk and take it to feed their babies," Dr. Simms said. "Breastfeeding is very important to the health of the child and we must do everything to keep the child healthy."
According to the ILO, "effective maternity protection is valued by societies which treasure their families and children. It means that women can maintain their link to work, economic independence and income for themselves and their families".
But although most women support the convention in principle, some believe further discussions will have to take place.
"If ratified, it will have to have conditionalities so that it doesn't give women the full freedom to conceive without thought for their ability to cope," said Carlene, a business manager. She said the rules would have to vary from woman to woman in terms of years of service and the number of children the woman has.
