The Ghana Health Service has suspended a nursing mother Rita Adu-Kyie of the Odumase CHPS Compound for taking her baby to work to breastfeed.
Ms. Adu-Kyie is on a two-week suspension since July 5, 2017. According to the suspension letter, the community health nurse will forfeit part of her July salary as part of her punishment.
“My outfit is suspending you from work for two (2) weeks with immediate effect due to your refusal to take verbal instructions from me not to bring your baby to work,” the Municipal Director of Health Services Martin Osafo Osei stated in the letter.
“More so, you have been warned on several occasions against this conduct,” the letter read in part.
“It should come to your notice that this development may affect your monthly salary for July, 2017 during the period of your suspension and on resumption of duty to work you are expected to report to the Municipal Health Director of Health Service,” it concluded.
According to the Labour Act (Act 651) of Ghana, Section – 57: “(6) A nursing mother is entitled to interrupt her work for an hour during her working hours to nurse her baby.
(7) Interruptions of work by a nursing mother for the purpose of nursing her baby shall be treated as working hours and paid for accordingly.
(8) An employer shall not dismiss a woman worker because of her absence from work on maternity leave.
(9) In this Part” (b) “nursing mother” means a woman with a child suckling at her breast for a period of not more than one year.”
Speaking about the issue, HR Expert Kofi Okyere said the laws allow breastfeeding at the work place, but for the baby to be with the mother all day is “problematic and could impede productivity.”
However, Mr. Okyere noted “some of these issues could be handled with a human face… I can only advise her to appeal on humanitarian grounds for her salary to be restored as well as expunge the suspension from her records.”
Source: starrfmonline.com
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I believe Maa Thess has never been a nursing mother yet so she doesn't know what she is talking about. Sometimes each situation is different because I went through bitter experiences and eventually I had to leave my job to take care of my baby. My son went through hell in the hands of my house help, you know leaving your baby in the care of someone whether daycare or home is not easy. We all know how some mothers will sacrifice anything for their children. We don't know the story behind this situation. You can read from the Bible how Moses mother protected her from the hands of the wicked. Please reconsider this decision and have sympathy for this poor nursing mother.
Why?
I wish this issue is sent to court. It is a typical Ghanaian attitude to work. This act is becoming rampant and we talk of being productive.
One can only choose to be cold or hot. Mothers are giving three months maternity leave to take care of their babies and any additional days needed can be requested for with your remaining leave days. A lot of private works frown on this and am sure she knows her work too does. She just did it to test the laws and seek public sympathy to justify her actions. she should refrain from this act. its very bad.
i think the lady must come out and give us her side of the story as to either the baby is with her or is with a nanny around and she took time to breastfeed him or her
It is for bringing the baby to work, not for breastfeeding. If she had a nanny somewhere close by taking care of the baby whilst she worked, and only took a few minutes off work to breastfeed the baby, I don't think the boss will have had any issue with that. You certainly cannot be very productive if you have an infant with you all the time