[UPDATED] Inspectors make sure employers comply with maternity laws

Labour inspectors have been making regular visits to employers to ensure that there is compliance with the law as it pertains to maternity protection.

“As labour inspectors we go out to employers to make sure they are adhering to the full law. A worker employed continuously for a period of not less than 12 months is entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave. One month full pay and two months half pay by the employer. Maternity leave is also in addition to sick leave or any vacation taken by the employee,” said Leena Lalla, who is a Labour Inspector 1.

Lalla was among a team from the Ministry of Labour which had one of several booths in the carpark of the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, Champs Fleurs, yesterday morning, to provide information to the public on World Breastfeeding Week. The week began on Thursday and continues until Wednesday.

The booths were part of the TT Moves Breastfeeding Walk and Health Fair which was supported by the North Central Regional Health Authority, Eastern Regional Health Authority and South West Regional Health Authority.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, in his address, said women should have the absolute right to breastfeed in public without feeling discriminated against. “Breastfeeding is not something to hide or be ashamed about and this sexualisation of breastfeeding needs to stop,” said Deyalsingh. He also stated that breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain types of cancers like breast and ovarian cancer. “By breastfeeding for six months you are also decreasing your chance of developing type two diabetes.”

Alena Nurse, the public relations associate and education officer for the National Insurance Board, told Sunday Newsday in an interview, “We provide services for working mothers who contribute and special maternity for mothers who are unemployed or who have cyclical employment because of that we use contributions from their spouse or common-law partner to pay them a grant of $3,750. However, for the maternity benefit which is based on a woman’s contribution we pay them an allowance for 14 weeks and a grant of $3750 per child.”

Claimants must be women between the age of 16 and 60 who are in insurable employment, she said, and they must also have a minimum of 10 contributions in the 13 weeks prior to the maternity period.

TT Association of Midwives (TTAM) president Marcia Rollock said, “As part of creating baby friendly hospitals, we are giving information on the services we provide which is childbirth classes." TTAM represents all midwives in public, private and independent practice. "Midwives are the best care for a woman having a normal delivery when it comes to natural birth. There are classes that we run for expectant mothers, fathers and families. We welcome them to come get answers to their concerns and questions on their baby’s needs at one of our classes," said Rollock.

Despite the inclement weather, the event had a significantly large turnout of families.

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original story.

Labour inspectors have been making regular visits to employers to ensure that there is compliance with the law as it pertains to maternity protection.

“As labour inspectors we go out to employers to make sure they are adhering to the full law. A worker employed continuously for a period of not less than 12 months is entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave. One month full pay and two months half pay by the employer. Maternity leave is also in addition to sick leave or any vacation taken by the employee,” said Leena Lalla, who is a Labour Inspector 1.

Lalla was among a team from the Ministry of Labour which had one of several booths in the carpark of the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, Champs Fleurs, this morning, to provide information to the public on World Breastfeeding Week. The week began on Thursday and continues until Wednesday.

The booths were part of the TT Moves Breastfeeding Walk and Health Fair which was supported by the North Central Regional Health Authority, Eastern Regional Health Authority and South West Regional Health Authority.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, in his address at the opening of the walk and health fair, said women should have the absolute right to breastfeed in public without feeling discriminated against. “Breastfeeding is not something to hide or be ashamed about and this sexualisation of breastfeeding needs to stop,” said Deyalsingh. He also stated that breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain types of cancers like breast and ovarian cancer. “By breastfeeding for six months you are also decreasing your chance of developing type two diabetes.”