HC directs authorities to set up breastfeeding corners at all factories

The High Court on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to set up breastfeeding corners at all mills and factories across the country within two months, reports UNB. 

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice M Mostafizur Rahman passed the order.

Labour secretary and Chairman of Department of Labour were directed to submit report within 60 days on implementation of the order, said Advocate Israt Hasan, who filed a petition in this regard on October last.

On October 24 last year, nine-month-old baby Umair Bin Sadi and his mother Advocate Israt Hasan filed the writ seeking a safe atmosphere for breastfeeding.

Following the writ on October 27, The High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why directives should not be given to set up breastfeeding and baby-care corners at workplaces, airports, bus stops, railway stations and shopping malls.

It also wanted to know why the Women and Children Affairs Ministry should not be directed to formulate guidelines to establish breastfeeding corners in public places and private institutions.

Israt Hasan said that there is a provision in the Bangladesh Labour Act-2006 for setting up breastfeeding corner in workplaces, but there is no implementation.

According to section 94 (Rooms for Children) (7), of The Bangladesh Labour Act-2006,  rooms shall be adequately furnished and in particular, 1 (one) cot or cradle with bed shall be kept therefore each child, and there shall be at least one chair or similar seat for the use of each mother while she is feeding or attending to her child and adequate and suitable toys shall be supplied for the comparatively older children.

She also said mothers often face embarrassing situation to breastfeed their children at public places. So breastfeeding corners need to be set up in such places so that they do not feel discomfort to breastfeed their children.