2023-08-05 00:00:18
The WHO establishes that for at least the first six months of a baby’s life his only food should be breast milk.
In accordance with ILO recommendations, paid maternity leave should have a minimum duration of 14 weeks.
According to current estimates, only 34% of the 185 countries analyzed fully comply with this indication.
One of the main complications that women who become mothers face is having to resume their daily lives. In addition to the aches and pains on a physical level, there is also a strong emotional impact because no one wants to be separated from a baby. With this in mind, one benefit offered is the paid maternity leave.
The moment a person receives the news that they are going to become a mother, their life changes completely. From now on, she must adopt a new style to prevent harm to the baby inside her.
For its part, this change in lifestyle is not limited only to the gestation process. During the puerperium it is also necessary to remain at rest. The physical union with the baby is fundamental for its correct development.
It is also necessary to remember a strict indication that the World Health Organization (WHO) has. For at least the first six months of a baby’s life, his only food should be breast milk. The nutrients it contains are exactly what a newborn needs to grow healthy and strong.
Paid maternity leave, what is it and how long does it last?
In its most specific definition, it is a crucial benefit to preserve the health of pregnant people during the puerperium and of the newborn. It is a mandatory rest period with pay and ideally all women in the world receive it, although in reality this is not the case because each government offers a different duration.
In accordance with the recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO) it should have a minimum duration of 14 weeks. The problem is that currently very few countries respect this criterion. According to current estimates, only 34% of the 185 countries analyzed fully comply with this recommendation.
Even when the legislation exists, its effective application is not guaranteed, especially in developing regions such as Latin America, Africa and Asia. This situation is worrying because in the absence of sufficient postnatal rest and adequate job protection, working women may be forced to leave the workforce or suffer unequal treatment associated with their role by their employers.
Added to the above, it is necessary to mention that the absence of income during the puerperium places them in a situation of vulnerability in their private life that leads them to be economically dependent on their partner or family.
The countries that offer more and less weeks of maternity leave
Based on what was reported by Statesman, Romania is one of the countries that guarantees the longest paid maternity leave in the world. Under current legislation it offers 92 weeks available by law in which mothers receive a full salary, according to 2020 OECD data.
In that order, other nations that stand out in this category are Estonia (82 weeks), Turkey (52.7 weeks) and Germany (42.6 weeks).
Now, with respect to Mexico the Federal labor law establishes that paid maternity leave must last for at least 12 weeks. While the United States stands out because it does not guarantee at the federal level an established maternity rest period or a monetary benefit after birth.
Also read:
Paternity leave in Latin America: How many days does each country offer?
Breastfeeding: Benefits for mothers, babies, hospitals and the environment
Does maternity have an expiration date? The challenges of being a mother after 35 years
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