Resources on maternity protection

  1. Maternity protection at work: It matters to everyone

    11 May 2018

    Maternity Protection is a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is defined in ILO international labour standards. Listen to why maternity protection is everyone’s business.

  2. Universal Social Protection Floors: Costing Estimates and Affordability in 57 Lower Income Countries

    13 December 2017

    This paper presents the results of costing universal social protection floors in 34 lower middle-income, and 23 low-income countries

  3. Social protection is a human right but how many benefit?

    29 November 2017

    The ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2017-19 provides recent data on social protection systems around the world, and monitors progress towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It shows that more efforts are needed to extend coverage in many countries, but achieving universal social protection is possible.

  4. Cash transfer programmes, poverty reduction and women’s economic empowerment: Experience from Mexico

    23 August 2017

    This working paper on cash transfers in Mexico presents the impact of a major national cash transfer programme on health, education, income, poverty, labour force participation, time use and bargaining power of women at the household and community level. Its results point to evidence that most of these gender-related interventions have focused on breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty, particularly for disadvantaged girl children, but have been weaker in promoting women’s economic empowerment through employment or sustainable livelihoods. It also highlights the challenge of enhancing women’s economic empowerment with targeted actions aimed at reducing women’s time poverty and redistributing unpaid care responsibilities between women and men and between families and the State. This working paper is a joint publication of the Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch in the ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department and the ILO Social Protection Department.

  5. Paid maternity leave rising in the U.S. tech sector

    06 August 2015

    CNN reports on ILO research into paid maternity leave worldwide. Despite extended parental leave becoming the latest benefit that tech companies are using to compete for talented employees, parental leave in the United States still trails other developed countries.

  6. Day 11: ILO Director-General Guy Ryder hails ‘triumph of tripartism’ at closing of 104th International Labour Conference

    13 June 2015

    Ryder praises ILC delegates for adoption of instrument on transition to formality, admission of new member state Cooks Islands and consensus-driven decisions

  7. © Richard Lewisohn/Image Source 2022
    Maternity protection: Good for workers, good for small businesses

    20 October 2014

    Maternity protection and work-family measures can generate positive outcomes for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), says ILO Specialist Laura Addati.

  8. © Wang Zhao / AFP 2022
    Maternity protection makes headway amid vast global gaps

    13 May 2014

    Despite progress in maternity benefits and a trend supporting paternity leave, an ILO report finds most women around the world are still not protected at work.

  9. © Peter Parks / AFP 2022
    Economic crisis lends unexpected support to families in some countries

    13 May 2014

    An ILO report says a surprising side effect of the crisis in some countries was a lift to families, including better benefits for maternity and parental leave.

  10. The best Mother’s Day gift of all

    09 May 2014

    As many countries mark Mother’s Day on May 11, the ILO is poised to release its report on maternity protection, covering adequate leave, safety rules, discrimination protection and proper nursing breaks.