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Closed Create new rights to paid breastfeeding breaks for mothers

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The law doesn’t require employers allow employees time off for breastfeeding. We want this to change, so that mothers have a right to paid breaks for breastfeeding. Currently some employers either don't allow, or pay for, breaks for breastfeeding mothers.

Breastfeeding has benefits for a child's health and development, and supporting breastfeeding at work can help encourage mothers to go back to work and breastfeed for longer, and avoid health risks when returning to work for breastfeeding mothers. It could also help reduce staff absence, increase morale and loyalty, and help with staff retention.

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  • Related activity

    Information on support for parents and carers of infants: share your experiences

    On Tuesday 12 March, MPs will debate the information on support available to parents and carers of infants. The debate will be led by Sally-Ann Hart MP.

    She would like to hear from people who have recent experience as a parent or carer of an infant.

    Specifically, she would like to understand what information they were given about services regarding:

    • breastfeeding and infant feeding
    • physical and mental health
    • parent-infant relationships.

    She may quote your contribution directly during her debate.

    Find out more and share your experiences with her by midday on Monday 11 March:

    Information on support available for parents and carers of infants

    Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said, and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage.

    What are Westminster Hall debates?

    Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.

    Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

    Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'. This means that Westminster Hall debates don’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.

    Visual explainer: Westminster Hall debates

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    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 5 October 2023.