Nestlé Central and West Africa Region (CWAR) on Monday announced a new policy to foster a supportive environment for Nestlé parents and breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.

A statement from Nestlé and copied to the GNA said the CWAR Parental Policy is designed to support employees and their children in all its sites across the region.

It also reinforces the company’s support for the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by the introduction of adequate nutritious complementary foods, along with sustained breastfeeding, until two years of age and beyond.

“We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for people around the world – and this starts with our employees and their families,” said Kais Marzouki, Market Head for Nestlé CWAR.

“We know that the first 1,000 days of life – from conception to the child’s second birthday offer a unique window of opportunity for ensuring optimal growth and development in the short term and for impacting the future health of a child over the long term.

“Our new Nestlé CWAR Parental Policy helps us better support our employees in providing optimal nutrition for their children during this critical period in addition to promoting gender,” Mr Marzouki added.

The Policy, in line with the Nestle Global Maternity Protection Policy, embraces key principles set out by the International Labour Organization Maternity Protection Convention.

Some of the Policy’s most notable measures include, Conducive work environment to breastfeed, Daily breaks or reduction of work hours for mothers to breastfeed.

Access to breastfeeding rooms at work, equipped with comfortable chairs, sinks and refrigerators

The policy seeks protection for pregnant women in the workplace, the right to extend maternity leave up to six months, in addition to a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave, a minimum of 5 days paid paternity leave, Flexible working arrangements and employment protection and non-discrimination for employees returning from parental leave.

These measures apply to all employees, who are primary caregivers of their newborns, including fathers and adoptive parents.

They are to be implemented by end of 2016, it said.