Impact and people

Improving breastfeeding facilities benefits workers, their babies and business

01 August 2019

A worker-management committee has helped improve facilities for new mothers in one of Indonesia’s leading garment factories, while boosting productivity.

© S.Jensen /GAVI ALLIANCE /AFP 2022

Maternity leave: Women's survival vs. family responsibilities in Rwanda

22 October 2014

Most women make a choice between their own survival and family responsibilities. This is where the ILO Convention on maternity protection comes in.
Women at work – where we are, where we want to be

08 March 2014

To mark International Women’s Day, the ILO reflects on the progress that has been made and what still needs to be done to achieve gender equality in the workplace. Follow two women, an Indian CEO and a US school teacher, whose experiences shed an interesting light on the common challenges facing women across the globe.

Maternity protection: Not just a personal issue

23 November 2012

Many countries have ratified ILO conventions on maternity protection, but pregnant women still face workplace discrimination. Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), the ILO publishes guidelines on how to implement maternity protection policies.

Questions and answers about maternity at work

23 June 2010

Maternity protection has been a primary concern of the ILO since its creation, in 1919, when the first International Labour Conference adopted the first Maternity Protection Convention No. 3. A new publication on the state of maternity protection in the world has just been released by the ILO. Interview with Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Programme, about achievements made and persisting challenges for maternity protection, including the impact of the current economic and employment crises.

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