Pia urges employers: "Give breastfeeding moms a (lactation) break!"

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today called on heads of government offices and private employers to comply with a new law that allows breastfeeding employees to take time off during work hours to pump and store their milk, which they could later take home to feed their infant.

Signed into law in March this year, Republic Act 10024, or the "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009" now permits paid "lactation breaks" to encourage working mothers to continue breastfeeding upon returning to work after giving birth.

"Reporting back to work should now pose less of a hindrance to working moms who want to continue giving breast milk to their newborn," said Cayetano, principal author of RA 10024 and Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Health and Demography and Youth, Women and Family Relations.