KUCHING: The government, policy makers, employers, managers, and the public should play their role in building a supportive ecosystem to enable breastfeeding for working parents, said Dr Kelvin Yii.
The Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament stressed the need for supportive policies that encompass appropriate facilities, resources, and public awareness to enable mothers to resume work while continuing to breastfeed.
“Fostering child development and reducing health costs through breastfeeding yield economic advantages for both families and the nation.
“The government has recognised the importance of this. It was even addressed in the recent speech by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to put forth his vision of the ‘Madani Economy,” he said in a statement yesterday.
While existing policies encourage breastfeeding, Dr Yii acknowledged their insufficiency, as many mothers still encounter challenges sustaining breastfeeding upon returning to work due to inadequate facilities in both public and private sectors.
“The Ministry of Health’s National Breastfeeding Policy encourages nursing mothers to breastfeed for at least six months.
“The Employment Act (Amendment) 2022 also introduced a string of new benefits for employees that include seven days of paid paternity leave and 98 days of maternity leave.
“However, lactation breaks at workplaces are still not provided by any laws,” he explained.
To this end, he called upon employers to grant eligible employees several breaks in a day for expressing breast milk and ensuring proper storage.
“All these can help provide a more supportive ecosystem to allow mothers back to work, which spurs the country’s economy including those in the informal sector or on temporary contracts.
“Women shouldn’t have to choose between breastfeeding their children and their jobs,” he said.
