Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Maternity Protection Convention, 1919 (No. 3) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1934)

The Committee notes the Government’s report, the statistical information provided, the observations of 2011 from the Trade Union Unification Confederation (CUS), and the Government’s reply to them.

Article 3 (d) of the Convention. Nursing breaks. In its previous comments the Committee emphasized that section 143(2) of the Labour Code, which provides for a 15-minute break every three hours for nursing (breastfeeding), is not in conformity with Article 3(d) of the Convention, which provides for two breaks of half an hour in a working day. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that: (1) in the public sector, nursing mothers have one hour per day for breastfeeding; and (2) in the private sector, collective agreements usually provide for longer breaks than those stipulated by the national legislation. In view of the above, the Committee requests the Government to indicate which legislative provisions allow nursing mothers working in the public sector a nursing break of one hour per day. It also requests the Government to send copies of collective agreements containing provisions on nursing breaks. Lastly, the Government is requested to amend section 143(2) of the Labour Code to bring it into full conformity with national practice and with Article 3(d) of the Convention.