Lawmakers in Costa Rica approved on March 18 a new law that expands the rights of working mothers to breastfeed or express milk during work hours. The legislation, known as project 24481, was passed unanimously by the Third Plenary Commission of Congress with support from all 13 legislators present.
The new law amends the Labor Code to require employers to provide at least 25 minutes every three working hours for mothers to extract breast milk. This time is considered part of the regular workday and cannot be replaced by other benefits or accumulated. Adjustments to this period can be made with a medical certificate based on the worker’s physiological needs.
Additionally, changes to Article 95 establish that the minimum period for workplace breastfeeding rights is the child’s first year of life. This period can be extended in three-month increments if a medical certificate confirms that the child continues to receive breast milk. Certificates may be issued by public or private health professionals and apply to direct, mixed, expressed, and relactation feeding processes.
The regulation maintains a paid daily hour for breastfeeding during regular work shifts but allows mothers flexibility in how they use this time: either 15 minutes every two hours, two half-hour breaks per day, arriving an hour late, or leaving an hour early. For overtime shifts, an additional 15-minute break every three hours is granted on top of existing provisions.
The initiative also clarifies that breastfeeding rights apply regardless of whether the mother is underage or adult and extends protections to incarcerated women and student mothers in both public and private educational institutions. Rebeca Artavia, partner at BDS Asesores, said “the reform imposes concrete obligations regarding infrastructure and time management.” Artavia said companies must make preventive adjustments in their internal regulations and physical conditions. Failure to comply could result in sanctions and labor contingencies for employers.
