Topic(s): Breastfeeding, Maternity Protection, Research
Location: Southeast Asia
Language(s): English
Audience: Employers, Health and service providers, Policy makers and legislators
Programs: Policy advocacy
To increase breastfeeding rates, this study explores the potential cost to optimizing paid maternity protection programs, as well as challenges to its implementation in Indonesia. The cost of expanding paid maternity leave from three to six months and incorporating lactation rooms in 80% of medium and large size firms was estimated at US$1 billion from 2020 to 2030. That cost is lower than the potential cost savings of US$1.5 billion that would occur from breastfeeding benefits, such as decreased childhood mortality and cognitive loss. While barriers to breastfeeding need to be overcome, Indonesia would reap significant economic benefits from expanding maternity protection programs.
