Female workers with under-12-month infants will be entitled to a 60-minute break per day to breastfeed them, pump and store breast milk, and rest while receiving full wages under their labor contracts.
This is among the new provisions on healthcare for female employees in Decree 145/2020/ND-CP dated December 14, detailing and guiding the implementation of the Labor Code regarding working conditions and industrial relations.
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| Health checkups for employees of VIETPOWWER Co., Ltd__Photo: VNA |
Accordingly, female employees may reach agreement with their employers for more flexible work schedules based on their circumstances and workplaces’ practical demands.
The new regulation encourages employers to arrange lactation rooms to help women pump and store breast milk for their infants. Such accommodations will be required for any workplace with 1,000 or more female employees.
Employers are recommended to allow female employees with children aged over 12 months to take break for pumping and storing breast milk. The break time may be agreed upon between female employees and their employers.
In addition, the new regulation encourages employers to allow their pregnant female employees to take more paid leaves for prenatal visits than provided in Article 32 of the Law on Social Insurance.
It also provides important labor policies toward female workers during their periods.
Specifically, a woman is entitled to a 30-minute break per day and at least three days a month during menstruation while receiving full wage under her labor contract. More monthly breaks and specific schedules can be agreed upon by female employees and their employers.
A female employee who needs not to take menstrual leave and wishes to continue working normally as consented by her employer may be paid additional wage for jobs performed during the period she should have taken a leave and this working period will not be counted as her overtime working hours.
The new regulation will take effect on February 1, 2021.- (VLLF)
