Six-month maternity leave proposal gutted in September protests
Summary
A proposal to grant six months of maternity leave to working mothers and amend public health laws was destroyed during Nepal's September Gen Z protests, forcing officials to restart the drafting process.
Key Points
- A proposal to grant six months' maternity leave to working mothers was destroyed during the September Gen Z protests in Nepal.
- The destroyed proposal was part of broader health reforms including changes to the Mother's Milk Substitutes Act-1992.
- Nepal's exclusive breastfeeding rates have declined from 70% in 2011 to 56% in 2022, with educated working mothers less likely to breastfeed exclusively.
- Health officials believe six months' maternity leave would promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve child and maternal health outcomes.
