Breastfeeding in workplace is not an obstacle to productivity: Experts

Breastfeeding in the workplace does not create any barrier to productivity rather a robust support system for breastfeeding can bolster skilled worker retention and offer economic advantages to companies, said experts at a seminar.

At the seminar on supporting breastfeeding in workplaces, they called for all readymade garment (RMG) industries to ensure breastfeeding and day care facilities to reduce the dropout of skilled women workers.

The seminar, jointly organised by Unicef, National Nutrition Services, the Ministry of Health, Sweden Sverige and the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Tuesday. 

Dr M Islam Bulbul, programme manager of National Nutrition Services, said exclusive breastfeeding protects children against infections from unclean food and liquids, which is a leading cause of death of children in Bangladesh. 

In his keynote address, he highlighted that 42% of the 10-15 year-old population in Bangladesh comprises working women, with 10% engaged in the formal sector. 

He stressed that promoting breastfeeding within workplaces reaps substantial human and economic benefits. These include enhanced corporate reputation, a reduction in leave requests for medical appointments by both mother and child, lower instances of maternity-related absenteeism, greater retention of female employees, diminished employee turnover rates, and cost savings through the elimination of recruitment and training expenditures.

Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh, said breastfeeding protects babies from diseases, helps in healthy brain development, and encourages stimulation and maternal bonding. 

Being one of the fastest-growing private sectors in the world and with women making up a rising portion of this workforce, Bangladesh needs to do everything to provide support for working mothers, he added.

Professor Dr Shamiul Islam, director (admin) of Directorate General of Health Services, said that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, maternal and child health must be given more importance. 

Stressing the need to increase the rate of institutional delivery, breastfeeding, and child nutrition, he also said human resources are valuable and breastfeeding should be arranged in the factory to retain them. If necessary, the Ministry of Health can also assist in training where Unicef provides support to factories in this regard.

Helal Uddin, chairman of Health Standing Committee at BGMEA, asserted that maternal breastfeeding directly corresponds to heightened company productivity. Consequently, many garment establishments feature designated breastfeeding corners and day care facilities, a practice poised for further expansion.

The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey-2022 revealed a concerning drop in exclusive breastfeeding rates, from 65% in 2018 to 55% in 2022. This indicates the need for concerted efforts to promote breastfeeding. By fostering workplace environments conducive to supporting working parents, Bangladesh can take significant strides in improving breastfeeding practices.

The seminar brought together participants from governmental bodies, the private sector, and civil society organisations.