May I express milk or breastfeed during working hours?
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Yes. During the first nine months after giving birth, Dutch employees may breastfeed or express milk during work for up to a quarter of each shift's working time, with pay. Agree scheduling, a suitable room and occupational risks before returning.
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1. How much time is available?
The right applies for nine months after childbirth. Breaks may total up to a quarter of working time per shift. Eight working hours therefore allow up to two hours, not automatically a whole morning off. Feeding and expressing share the same entitlement; pay continues.
2. What room is required?
Request a quiet, hygienic room lockable from inside, with privacy, a bed or couch, ventilation and suitable temperature. A working refrigerator must be available and bottle-cleaning facilities nearby. Hazardous substances must not endanger the space. A car or toilet is not a suitable standard solution.
3. What if no suitable room exists?
The employer must arrange a suitable solution. Arboportaal mentions a neighbouring business's suitable room or allowing feeding/expressing at home if no proper room exists. Necessary travel home and back then counts as paid work. Agree the actual arrangement in advance, rather than assuming unlimited travel time.
4. What other protection applies?
Pregnancy and the first six months after birth also bring adjusted work/rest times and, where needed, duties. Extra breaks can be up to one eighth of work time, shifts at most ten hours, averages at most fifty hours over four weeks or forty-five over sixteen. Night/overtime work has extra protection. Assess breastfeeding-related risks with the occupational physician if needed.
5. How do I arrange it?
Notify return date, birth date and required breaks and room early. Agree availability and handovers, then confirm in writing. Do not provide unnecessary medical details. Check payroll recording: paid feeding time is not voluntary unpaid leave.
6. What if the employer refuses?
Ask for specific reasons for refusal or unsuitable facilities. Involve HR, the OR, occupational health service or physician and use the Labour Authority route for persistent breaches. After nine months this specific paid-time right ends, but discuss continued arrangements and safe working conditions separately. The draft is preparation, not automatic notification.
Draft request: May I express milk or breastfeed during working hours?
Complete the facts and check the applicable rules. This draft sends nothing and is not legal approval.
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Must I make up expressing time later?
The statutory feeding/expressing right within nine months is paid work up to the applicable limit. It is not automatically personal time to make up. Agree scheduling and recording and have different arrangements checked.
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Birth and return dates
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- Birth and return dates
- Working hours per shift
- Requested breaks
- Room, refrigerator and hygiene
- Occupational risks and physician advice
- Agreements and pay recording
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Rijksoverheid — kolven ↗Rijksoverheid — aangepast werk ↗Arboportaal — voorzieningen en betaling ↗Rijksoverheid — arboklacht ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.