Maternity protection and parental leave entitlements
Maternity protection includes protection against suspension or loss of income during maternity leave, and access to maternal health care. Maternity leave supported with cash benefits to fully or partially replace women’s earnings during the final stages of pregnancy and after childbirth is of critical importance for the well-being of pregnant women, new mothers and their families. The absence of income security during the final stages of pregnancy and after childbirth forces many women, especially those in the informal economy, to return to work prematurely, thereby putting at risk their own and their children’s health.
Another fundamental component of maternity protection is maternal health care, namely effective access to adequate medical care and services during pregnancy and childbirth, and beyond, to ensure the health of both mothers and children. As with health care in general, a lack of effective access to maternal health care coverage not only puts the health of women and children at risk, but also exposes families to significantly increased risk of poverty.
Maternity protection also includes the protection of women’s rights at work during maternity and beyond, through measures that safeguard employment, protect women against discrimination and dismissals, and allow them to return to their jobs after maternity leave under conditions that take into account their specific circumstances. It also includes occupational safety and health components that are essential to protect the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their babies, as well as women’s reproductive capacity.
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Code du travail haïtien
Article 320 -322. Le Code du travail examine les conditions d’obtention d’un conge maternité, sa durée et son indemnisation, ainsi que, dans l’Article 331, les conditions d’allaitement sur le lieu de travail.
Reglamento para el goce del periodo de lactancia.
Determina que toda madre en época de lactancia puede disponer en los lugares en donde trabaja, de media hora de descanso dos veces al día con el objeto de alimentar a su hijo, salvo que por convenio o costumbre corresponda un descanso mayor.
Reglamento de la Ley de Servicio Civil. Acuerdo Gubernativo 18-98.
Establece que las madres servidoras del Estado tendrán derecho al descanso pre y post natal de acuerdo con lo prescrito por las disposiciones del Instituto guatemalteco de seguridad social. La servidora no protegida por el programa de maternidad del Instituto guatemalteco de seguridad social, tendrá derecho a licencia con goce de salario o sueldo por […]
National Insurance Act (Modified 2007)
Article 12 states that: Maternity benefit shall be granted to a woman for a period starting from a date not earlier than six weeks before the expected date of confinement and continuing until the expiration of (a) 12 weeks; or (b) 6 weeks from the date on which confinement occurs whichever is the later. Article […]
Decreto 1.263 – Ley del Seguro Social (Última modificación 2012)
El Seguro Social cubre en forma gradual los riesgos a que están expuestos los trabajadores, entre otros, la maternidad (art. 2). En caso de maternidad, la trabajadora asegurada tiene derecho a ciertos beneficios, incluyendo: servicios médicos y cuidados; un subsidio de dinero; una ayuda para lactancia, en especie o dinero; y una canastilla maternal (art. […]
Ley 129
La Ley tiene como finalidad el financiamiento para cubrir los gastos de medicinas, insumos, micronutrientes, suministros, exámenes básicos de laboratorio y exámenes complementarios para atención de la mujer embarazada, recién nacidos o nacidas y, niñas y niños menores de cinco años. Para efectos de la aplicación se requiere del concurso de todas las instituciones que […]
Women’s Right to Maternal Health Services in Uganda
Nature of the Case Four petitioners—including the Center for Health, Human Rights & Development (CEHURD) and two family members of women who died during childbirth—appeal the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of their petition in which they alleged that the government violated the Constitution by failing to provide basic maternal health services and that health workers’ negligence […]
Women and children’s social and economic rights (including health) in Uganda
Nature of the Case The case was brought on behalf of a pregnant woman who died in a hospital while awaiting obstetric care. It considers whether the hospital failed to provide appropriate obstetric care and management, thereby violating her rights as well as those of her surviving children. Summary On May 5, 2011, Irene Nanteza […]
Application of international provisions concerning maternal health in the Netherlands
In force until 1996, Article 3(a) of “Besluit ziekenhuisverpleging ziekenfondsverzekering” (Decree on health insurance and hospital care) required personal contributions from women towards the cost of postnatal care. Moreover, according to the explanatory note (“toelichting”) accompanying this Decree, personal contributions would also include postnatal care in hospitals regardless of whether or not this care was […]
Unfair dismissal during protected maternity period in Benin
Consequences of childbirth led to a medical condition that would temporarily prevent rigorous physical activities, and subsequently have implications for the complainant’s work duties upon returning to Plan International Benin after maternity leave, due to the necessity of daily motorcycle travel. During extended maternity leave, she was dismissed on the basis of her health status […]
Maternity Protection and Childcare Systems in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has ratified all major UN treaties on human rights, including the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, (CEDAW), its Optional Protocol, and the core ILO Conventions in the area of non-discrimination, maternity protection and work-family reconciliation (ILO Conventions 100, 111, 183 and 156). The Constitution as well as labour, […]
Social protection for maternity: Key policy trends and statistics
This policy paper: (i) provides a global overview of the organization of maternity cash benefits and maternity care in 188 countries; (ii) analyses trends and recent policies, e.g. extension of maternity protection coverage in a large number of low- and middle-income countries; (iii) describes the negative impacts of fiscal consolidation and adjustment measures in a […]
Feasibility Study of the Introduction of a New Maternity Cash Benefits Scheme in Rwanda
The Government of Rwanda requested the ILO to carry out a feasibility study on the introduction of a new maternity benefit scheme in Rwanda. For the moment, public and private sector employers in Rwanda provide 12 weeks of paid maternity leave to female employees based on labour laws. Women on maternity leave receive full wage replacement for the […]
Maternity and paternity at work: Law and practice across the world
This report reviews national legislative provisions on maternity protection at work in 185 countries and territories (including leave, benefits, employment protection, health protection, breastfeeding arrangements at work and childcare), statistical coverage in law and in practice of paid maternity leave as well as statutory provision of paternity, parental and adoption leaves. It shows how well national laws […]
