The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has unveiled a breastfeeding facility at Nestlé Kenya and hopes to encourage more of its members to provide a conducive environment for mothers.
Speaking during the launch event at Nestlé Kenya offices, FKE CEO Jacqueline Mugo said the Federation was taking up the global call for action by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to support women to breastfeed while at work. “Only two out of 10 organisations have an enabling environment for breastfeeding mothers. We are aiming to encourage all our members to implement this as a matter of priority,” said Ms Mugo.
FKE CEO Jacqueline Mugo and Head of Nestle East African Cluster, Nestle Kenya Ciru Miring’u cut the ribbon to officially commission a breastfeeding room at Nestle Kenya.
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The breastfeeding room and equipment may vary depending with the organization, but needs to be a private, hygienic, safe and secure area where the female employees can express their milk. “With just a few provisions to facilitate the collection and storage of mother’s milk, these mothers will be happier employees and will have healthier children,” said Ms Mugo.
The call for global action to be taken to support women to make breastfeeding work at the workplace is the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2015, “Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s Make it Work!,” which runs from the 1st to the 7thAugust.
According to Ms Ciru Miring’u, Head of Nestlé’s East African Cluster, Nestlé Kenya is committed to not only empowering their own employees, but also educating consumers on the benefits of breastfeeding through the Nestlé Start Healthy Stay Healthy initiative.
Last month, Nestlé launched a global Maternity Protection Policy for its employees worldwide, Ms Miring’u said, which gives employees a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave and the right to extend their maternity leave up to six months.
Nestlé has 280 employees in Kenya, 90 of them women.
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