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Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
AT A GLANCE:
August 1 to 7 of every year is declared as World Breastfeeding Week by virtue of Proclamation No. 1113, series of 2006.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in 120 countries pursuant to the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, the International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and Related Products, and subsequent resolutions of the World Health Assembly, to which the Philippines is a signatory.
Breastfeeding is the method of feeding an infant directly from the human breast. It has distinct advantages which benefit not only the infant and the mother, but the hospital and the country that adopts its practice. It is the first preventive health measure that can be given to the child at birth, and enhances the relationship between the mother and the infant.
Mindful of the benefits of breastfeeding, the State, through the issuance of Proclamation No. 1113, s. 2006 and the enactment of laws towards this purpose, shall promote and encourage breastfeeding and provide the specific measures that would present opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child.
The Proclamation provides:
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the week of August 1 to 7 of every year as World Breastfeeding Week, in accordance with international practice, and in consonance with the international standard of ethics, to be celebrated nationwide, directs the following:
- With the Department of Health as lead, all government agencies and in particular the Department of Education, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Local Government Units, the Philippine Information Agency and the Council for the Welfare of the Children, are hereby enjoined to participate and mobilize their networks to sustain a high level of awareness, support and protection of breastfeeding;
- All non-government organizations, professional and civic organizations, the religious sector, private sector to work together and promote this endeavor;
- All international agencies and organizations, within their respective mandate and programs, give high priority and support to this undertaking.”
Did you know that the period of time within which a breastfeeding employee shall use to nurse her child shall be counted as compensable working hours? Such period shall not be less than a total of forty (40) minutes for every eight (8) hour working period.
Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 provides that:
“Nursing employees shall be granted break intervals in addition to the regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or express milk. These intervals, which shall include the time it takes an employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station, shall be counted as compensable hours worked. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may adjust the same: Provided, That such intervals shall not be less than a total of forty (40) minutes for every eight (8)-hour working period.” (Section 7, R.A. No. 10028, amending Section 12, R.A. No. 7600)
Read also: Working Mother-Baby-Friendly Establishments under the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009
Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries regarding taxation and taxpayer’s remedies, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/0917-5772207.
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