Inadequate maternity protection in employment

Maternity protection is an increasingly important matter as more women, particularly married women and single mothers, are employed. In a strict sense, maternity protection includes the right to maternity leave, the right to benefits, and the right to job security during prescribed periods. In a broader sense, it also includes the right to on-premises nursing facilities and the subsequent necessary work breaks. Denial of these rights may jeopardize the health of both the mother and her child and add additional financial burdens to individual women and their families.