Maternity and paternity at work

Background

The Maternity and paternity at work: Law and practice across the world 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 and practice conform to the ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183), its accompanying recommendation (No. 191) and the Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156). The report is based on the ILO Working Conditions Laws Database – Maternity Protection and an ILO statistical methodology to estimate coverage in law and in practice.

Key Messages

• Maternity protection is a fundamental human right and an indispensable element of comprehensive work–family policies. It is crucial to promoting maternal and child health and preventing discrimination against women in the workplace.

• The goal of maternity protection legislation is to enable women to combine their reproductive and productive roles successfully and to promote equal opportunities and treatment in employment and occupation, without prejudice to health or economic security.

• A total of 66 countries ratified at least one of the three maternity protection Conventions adopted by ILO member States since 1919.

• Virtually every country around the world provides some type of maternity protection legislation and many others also adopted measures to support workers with family responsibilities.

• Fathers undertaking a more active role in caregiving is likely to be one of the most significant social developments of the twenty-first century.

References

The Maternity and paternity at work, International Labor Organization .