A decision in the Industrial Relations Commission recently to allow all breastfeeding mothers in the public service lactation breaks and the right to a private space to express milk has been hailed as a breakthrough for women’s rights, and it is hoped more workplaces will follow suit.
Breastfeeding: more milk please

In the past, NSW government departments have been slow to catch on to the family-friendly policy, but the variation of the Crown Employees Award 2009 will make more women feel comfortable about breastfeeding after returning to work.

In the past, many women in the public sector have been discriminated against, alienated, and embarrassed by the lack of sensitivity towards breastfeeding in the workplace.

Some women had been harassed for storing breast milk in the fridge, had other people walk in while they were expressing milk, been forced to go to their car or toilet to express milk, or have had to give up breastfeeding altogether due to a lack of support at work.

Having the lactation breaks clause in the Award will go a long way to helping women feel comfortable about returning to work after the birth of their child.

By including a specific clause in the Award, we hope more women will feel comfortable about expressing milk at work when they need to.

The new clause extends to both part-time and full-time employees and requires the Department Head to provide access to a suitable private space with comfortable seating for the purpose of breastfeeding or expressing milk. The clause also states that employees are allowed telephone access in paid time to a free breastfeeding consultative service.

Giving women the option of continuing to breastfeed once they have gone back to work is an important step forward for women’s rights in the workplace.

We hope more workplaces follow suit and bring in such important measures.

Allowing women to continue to breastfeed is not only good for the baby. It is also good for the mother’s health, good for the employer, and good for the economy through retention of women in the workplace.