M.F.W.I.

The Mother-friendly Workplace Initiative (MFWI) was launched during WBW 1993 to focus on the issue of women’s work and breastfeeding. From August 1-7, breastfeeding advocates around the world used WBW to raise awareness about breastfeeding and the rights and needs of working breastfeeding women. The initiative complemented the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and sought to take baby-friendliness outside the hospitals into women’s working environments. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has been a partner and strong supporter of the MFWI.

The action ideas developed for the MFWI urged working women, employers, unions and worker groups, health care workers, environments/community action groups, women’s groups as well as policy-makers to play their respective roles to promote breastfeeding at the workplace. Three essential requirements were highlighted which ensure that every mother, regardless of whether she is formally employed or not, can combine breastfeeding and work successfully. These requirements are:

• Time : paid maternity leave, flexible working hours and breastfeeding breaks.
• Space/Proximity : provide infant/child care at or near workplace, private facilities for expressing and storing breastmilk, clean and non hazardous work environment.
• Support : maternity benefits, job security, positive attitude towards breastfeeding in public, network of supportive women in unions and workers’ group.

A handbook, Being Mother-friendly: A practical guide for working women and breastfeeding was one pertinent outcome of the MFWI. In an easy to understand style, it addresses issues confronting working women who choose to breastfeed. The guidebook :

• Disseminated information on the need and benefits of breastfeeding
• Influenced attitudes and public opinion to promote breastfeeding.
• Formulated actions leading to MFWI
• Helped build and strengthen legal and social support systems to promote breastfeeding among working women.