Minister wants Ghana to adopt Nestle’s mother-friendly work policy 

Youth and Sports Minister, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye is vowing to impress upon Ghana’s labour authorities to see to the promulgation of policies that engender friendlier work environments for nursing mothers.

Inspired by what he said was a most impressive supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers at any workplace he had ever come across, Nii Lante said he would work with the Employment and Labour Minister to see how Nestle’s in-house policy could be made a national one.

Nursing mothers at the renowned food and beverages producer have four months maternity leave with an option to extend it to six months, have flexible working arrangements, health protection for pregnant women, five working days paternity leave apart from annual leave, and a host of other measures to promote a conducive work environment such as the provision of breastfeeding rooms and daily breaks or reduction of working hours.

Nii Lante, also Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo constituency in Accra, was the guest of Nestle’s Tema factory on Thursday, along with a Deputy Education Minister, Alex Kyeremeh as the pair and other officials of their two ministries were taken on a tour of Nestles expanded production lines. [Click to see photos from the tour].

“I am highly impressed”, he said, adding that it would be desirable to have it as part of the national employment policy.

The Managing Director of Nestle Ghana, Madam Freda Duplan, who together with the Factory Manager, Walid Joseph Hbaika conducted the tour, said Nestle was already seeking to do more to improve the existing regime, explaining that in some other jurisdictions where Nestle operates, there are nurseries to support and school the infants.

Nestle has been operating in Ghana since 1957 and currently employs about 1,300 people.