While this provision offers some protection for breastfeeding mothers returning to work, experts say current workplace policies still fall short of supporting women who want to continue breastfeeding beyond maternity leave.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated globally from Saturday, 1 August to Friday, 7 August to promote and support breastfeeding. The 2026 theme is Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.

It highlights the importance of providing mothers with community, workplace, and healthcare resources to ensure exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

Clinical dietitian, lactation consultant and founder of Bump to Babe, Caréne Joubert, said women now make up a significant portion of the workforce. Yet, corporate South Africa has not done enough to accommodate breastfeeding mothers.

“While some employers go above and beyond the legal requirements, we need stronger legislation to ensure every mother receives the support she needs to continue breastfeeding after returning to work,” said Joubert.

“There is a significant gap between South Africa’s four-month maternity leave and the recommendation to breastfeed for two years or more. Many mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than planned because returning to work makes expressing milk difficult.”

Providing a private space

”Supporting breastfeeding mothers is not only good for families, but it also benefits employers. Healthier babies mean less absenteeism, mothers experience better morale, and the time needed to express milk is a very small investment compared to the long-term benefits.”

Employers can make a real difference by providing a private space to express milk, flexible working arrangements where possible, and fostering a workplace culture where breastfeeding mothers feel supported rather than judged, she said.

Under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, mothers are entitled to two additional 30-minute breastfeeding or expressing breaks each day during the first six months after childbirth.

However, employers are not legally required to provide paid maternity leave, dedicated lactation rooms, refrigeration facilities for storing expressed milk, flexible working hours or suitable cleaning facilities.

“We encourage employers to exceed the minimum legal requirements by providing private lactation spaces, refrigeration facilities and flexible working arrangements,” said Joubert.

“Employers should also foster a supportive workplace culture by educating staff and addressing any stigma surrounding breastfeeding or expressing milk in the workplace.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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