Through an executive decree signed by President of Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solis, the government seeks to offer working mothers the minimum conditions to breastfeed or pump breast milk at work.

The obligation will be applied both for private and public institutions that have in their payroll 30 or more women; the companies must also give the mother the time during the work day to use the room as it is established in article 97 of the Labor Code.

According to the new decree the space most be of at least 6 square meters (64.6 square feet) and a height of 2.40 meters (7.87 feet), it must offer a refrigerator of at minimum capacity of 38 liters to store exclusively breast milk; a small table, two chairs with padding, back support and armrest; a sink with liquid soap, covered trash can and trash bags; curtains or divisions to offer privacy between workers; proper air circulation, proper lighting, cleaning plan, anti-slip floor, and it must comply with Law 7600 (Equal Opportunities Law for People with Disabilities).

The Regulation for Lactation Rooms in Work Centers must be implemented in a term of twelve months. In the event that a work center does not comply with these regulations it can be penalized by the Labor Court, facing fines that can go from 1 to 23 base salaries depending on the severity of the offense.

“By settling this debt with the mothers of our country we are not only complying with our labor laws but we are also promoting the creation of spaces that gather the minimum sanitary conditions and avoid In this way the exposure to risk conditions and atmospheres that present a danger of contamination for the mother, the milk, the pump accessories and the conservation of the milk and indirectly protecting the health of the baby”, commented Alfredo Hasbum, Minister of Labor and Social Security.