The Associação Portuguesa pelos Direitos da Mulher na Gravidez e Parto (APDMGP) has expressed strong disapproval of the government’s recent proposals concerning breastfeeding and nursing exemptions, labeling them as a clear “setback” in family rights.
In an official statement, the association emphasizes that such measures, if implemented, are likely to exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly impacting “mothers who do not breastfeed, part-time working mothers, and families with lesser social protection.”
The APDMGP highlights that the government suggests compulsory medical certification at the start of breastfeeding leave, which must be renewed every six months (current legislation requires proof only after the baby’s first year), and sets a limit of two years for this entitlement (a limit not currently in place).
The proposed reforms, part of a draft labor law reform approved by the Council of Ministers, eliminate the “sharing of nursing leave between both parents, restricting the right to only one parent.” These changes suggest “excluding part-time workers with less than 50% working hours and limiting the use of the leave to the start or end of a shift,” without offering “any compensation or alternatives for mothers who do not breastfeed due to choice, physical impossibility, or medical conditions.”
The association asserts that “these changes overlook the diverse parental realities in Portugal,” underscoring that “motherhood and parenthood extend beyond the act of breastfeeding with maternal milk.”
Attention is drawn to “mothers who feed their children with formula,” those who work part-time, and non-traditional or single-parent families, pointing out the ongoing challenges of nighttime disruptions, fatigue, and baby care.
“The right to care should be universal and respected – for all mothers, all babies, all families,” it emphasizes, adding that “imposing restrictions and hurdles during such a delicate and demanding period as the postpartum compromises the physical health of mothers and babies and could significantly exacerbate mothers’ mental health issues.”
Rejecting any “labor reforms that perpetuate indirect discrimination based on a woman’s choice, biology, or contractual situation,” the association calls upon “all political forces, social movements, and organizations defending women’s and children’s rights to reject this proposal in its current form and to construct truly inclusive, fair labor legislation centered on the well-being of caregivers and those who need care.”
The labor law reform draft, which the government states involves the revision of “over a hundred articles of the Labor Code,” has been presented to social partners and will be negotiated within the scope of social dialogue.
