According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastmilk promotes sensory and cognitive development in infants, and protects them against infectious and chronic diseases. For the first six months of life, WHO recommends both “exclusive breastfeeding” – that is, the infant only receives breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water – and “breastfeeding on demand”, meaning the child should be breastfed as often as wanted, day and night.

However, putting this into practice can be quite a challenge because of a general lack of understanding and accommodating facilities in society. This is especially true for working mothers, some of whom have trouble finding a suitable place to express milk in the workplace, while others get labelled by co-workers as slackers who mix work with personal life.

Recognising these obstacles, Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, EOC Chairperson published an article in am730 on 24 July 2019, ahead of the World Breastfeeding Week from 1 – 7 August. He wrote, “In order to alleviate supervisors and colleagues’ misunderstanding, companies may establish a breastfeeding-friendly policy and a practical guide for breastfeeding employees. If feasible, companies may also provide facilities, such as lactation rooms, multi-purpose rooms and mini refrigerators for mothers to express and store milk in a safe and friendly environment.”

As Mr Chu puts it, “Breastmilk is a gift from a mother to her child.” With greater awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and a stronger sense of empathy, we can all contribute to building a more breastfeeding-friendly workplace.

• Read Mr Ricky CHU’s article in full (Chinese only)