The Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security, Maria do Rosário da Palma Ramalho, acknowledged awareness of “many abusive practices” concerning breastfeeding leave. However, the government currently lacks data on how many mothers are on reduced schedules due to this legally provided leave.
When asked about the number of mothers on reduced work schedules in Portugal, an official source from the Ministry of Labor stated, “The leave is granted and maintained directly by employers.”
In other words, breastfeeding working mothers submit a medical declaration to their employer, justifying an absence of two hours from work in case of inspection by the Authority for Labor Conditions (ACT). This declaration, however, remains with the company and is not communicated to any other entity, which also means this information doesn’t reach the government.
Furthermore, this issue doesn’t involve Social Security, as it is strictly a labor matter, explained a source from the Institute of Social Security (ISS).
“The requested data does not fall within the scope of competencies of the Institute of Social Security,” read a response from the entity.
The Notícias ao Minuto is also attempting to contact the ACT for more information, but a response has yet to be obtained.
Spoke of “many practices” of abuse: How many?
The data request follows an interview last weekend with TSF and Jornal de Notícias, in which the Minister of Labor stated that some mothers abuse the right to breastfeeding leave.
The remarks by the Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security regarding alleged abuses of breastfeeding rights are stirring controversy. Women’s rights groups denounce the minister’s “disinformation.”
Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho mentioned “many practices” of abuse, indicating situations where “children seem to continue being breastfed to grant workers reduced hours.”
Following these comments, Público reported on Tuesday that the government not only lacks data on mothers requesting reduced hours for breastfeeding but is also unaware of any potential abuses of this right.
WHO recommends breastfeeding “up to two years or more”
In the same response to Notícias ao Minuto, a source from the ministry explained that the “labor reform draft retains guaranteed breastfeeding leave up to the child’s age of two, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.”
However, the SNS24 portal states that “according to the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to six months of age,” and “after introducing other foods, breastfeeding should continue until two years or more.”
The current law provides that a “mother breastfeeding her child is entitled to leave from work for this purpose during the duration of breastfeeding,” without a specified time limit.
The government further explains that the “labor reform aims to create fair, credible, and applicable solutions, valuing workers, supporting families, and ensuring companies have stable and secure rules, benefiting the whole society.”
The ministry highlights that the “draft, still under discussion and subject to social dialogue and parliamentary debate, prioritizes strengthening parental leave sharing, with concrete measures like 100% payment for shared parental leave for 180 days and increasing the father’s presence after birth, promoting and reinforcing the work-life balance.”
Mothers cannot be punished for “supposed non-compliance” of a minority
The Order of Doctors’ president defended today, regarding the changes to breastfeeding leave that the government wants to implement, that mothers and their children should not be punished for the “supposed non-compliance” of a minority.
Cited in a statement released today, president Carlos Cortes says structural decisions such as altering labor law “should value the role of women and children in society, encourage childbirth, and ensure family well-being.”
