Maternity Protection
The Rights of Working Women to Maternity Protection
The recommended practice for breastfeeding is to breastfeed exclusively for six months and from then on continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary feeding up to two years and beyond. However this is sometimes seen as impossible for working mothers who have to return to work shortly after delivery. Most African countries have varied maternity leave and its entitlement for their women workforce. Mothers also need time to recover after delivery. The goal is to advocate for extended maternity leave where possible, of up to six months. There is also need to introduce Paternity leave so that parents can share the care of infants in the early life of the baby. IBFAN continues advocacy for improved women rights including longer maternity leave, the right to pay when on leave and the right to keep job. These benefits include all the other maternity benefits in the new ILO Convention 183, 2000 on Maternity Protection, and recommendation 191.
A Technical Working group exists in the region to:
1. Advocate for full implementation of MPC 183 and its Recommendations in all countries,
2. Sensitise policy makers and health workers on the benefits of maternity benefits for working women,
3. Train all players on the process of implementing ILO Maternity Convention183 and Recommendations 191,
4. Update governments, Trade unions and employers; and encourage tripartite relationship
5. Monitor Progress of countries.
To Whom it may Concerned:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I’m doing my Research paper on “Position of Maternity Rights in Tanzania” as part of my LL.B course in one of the University in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
I would like to request from you to update e with any data relating to East Africa as far as maternity rights protection is concerned to make my research work even more useful, current and substantive for both of us.
Indeed, I would like to carry out one of the best and comprehensive study but due to lucky of time and resources I’m bound to confine my findings basing on the few field informations that I have collected in dar es Salaam alone (as part of my primary source) and secondary methods which includes collection of data from other authorities and make comparison thereby. This includes data that I’m requesting from you.
Should you find that you are capable to assisting, please reply through my above e-mail address.
I thank you in advance,
Yours truly,
Mr. I. Panya,
P. O. Bo 8566,
Dar es Salaam - Tanzania.
Cell: +255 754 319 862
Tell: +255 22 2121 799
Fax: +255 22 2121 798