Marine Tondelier pleads for better consideration of breastfeeding at work

“To breastfeed or not to breastfeed”: it is with a parody of Shakespeare that this publication by Marine Tondelier begins on the social network The Ecologist presidential candidate has just given birth to a little boy, Léon, born on September 18, and therefore wants to speak up for mothers of newborns.

In this publication, accompanied by a photo of her breastfeeding her son, she demands in particular payment for breastfeeding hours. The boss of the Ecologists recognizes that the Labor Code already provides a time for breastfeeding or expressing milk. According to article L1225-30 of the Labor Code, “for one year from the day of birth, the employee breastfeeding her child has one hour per day during working hours for this purpose”.

The following articles specify that “the employee may breastfeed her child in the establishment” and that “any employer employing more than one hundred employees may be required to install premises dedicated to breastfeeding in their establishment or nearby”. An equivalent measure in the public service will come into force on January 1, 2027. But Marine Tondelier considers this system insufficient. She suggests establishing “effective and paid breastfeeding breaks, with suitable places to express and store milk”.

A “chosen and compensated breastfeeding leave”

The leader of the Environmentalists does not stop there. It also offers the “possibility of chosen and compensated breastfeeding leave, so as not to have to choose between breastfeeding, work and salary”. To justify this measure, she mentions breastfeeding leave which would have existed between “the years 1950 and 1975”. In 2004, MP Pierre Morel-À-L’Huissier had already questioned the government about a possible return of this leave. In her response published in 2005, the Minister of Parity and Professional Equality did not confirm its existence.

Marine Tondelier also wants “real support after leaving maternity: midwives, lactation consultants, PMI, home visits”, as well as “a more flexible return to work: adapted hours, teleworking when possible, gradual return to work”. Finally, she calls for adaptations for the “second parent”, so that he can support the breastfeeding mother. For the Hauts-de-France regional councilor, the choice to breastfeed should not be reserved for women who have “time, means and compatible work”.