Financial Express BD: Implement six-month maternity leave, Prime Minister asks private employers
August 8, 2011
Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Sunday urged the private employers to implement six-month maternity leave in their organisations as in government offices, reports UNB.
"It's very unfortunate that many private employers do not allow six-month maternity leave to the expectant mothers working in their organisations though all the government offices have already implemented it," she said.
The PM was addressing the inaugural function of the national programme arranged to mark the World Breastfeeding Week 2011 at the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
This year the week is being observed in Bangladesh with a call to all citizens to speak out about the importance of breastfeeding.
Hasina in her speech also requested the private employers to set up breastfeeding corners for creating ideal environment for the new mothers.
She also said breastfeeding corners should also be set up at the shopping malls and bus, rail and launch stations.
The PM said breastfeeding corners are being set up at all government offices, banks and insurance companies, and semi-government institutions and organisations.
She said: "Babies have to be breastfed properly, which will help them to grow up with best health. We need talented generations to build Bangladesh as a modern country."
Mentioning the UN award given to Bangladesh for its success in reducing child mortality (MDG-4), Hasina said Bangladesh has also been able to reduce maternal mortality to 194 per 100,000 (MDG-5).
"Insha-Allah, in both these sectors (child and maternal mortality), we will achieve such results that will be better than the MDG targets in 2015."
She said that the government had taken steps to appoint 3,000 midwives for ensuring better services to mothers and children.
Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, State Minister for Health Dr Capt (retd) Majibur Rahman Fakir, Adviser to the PM Prof Dr Syed Mudasser Ali, Health Secretary Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Director General of Health Prof Dr Khandaker Md Sifayet Ullah, Director General of Family Planning Directorate MM Neaz Uddin and Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation Chairperson Dr SK Roy also spoke at the function.