The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) held the third edition of ALMATÓN on August 6, an event focused on promoting and ensuring the right to breastfeed, including in the workplace. The initiative took place during World Breastfeeding Week.
The event included participation from working mothers as well as public officials such as Yerlin Zúñiga, Minister for the Status of Women and Executive President of INAMU; Marco Acuña, President of Grupo ICE; Harold Cordero, General Manager of ICE; Magaly Cordero, Director of Talent at ICE; and Alejandra Marín, Project Manager for Salas Alma at ICE.
Yerlin Zúñiga stated: “aplaudimos que el ICE apoye estas acciones, porque los lugares de trabajo son clave para contar con espacios dignos para la lactancia, horarios flexibles, licencias adecuadas y, sobre todo, una cultura institucional que no penalice la maternidad. Las mujeres no deberían elegir entre alimentar a sus hijos e hijas y mantener sus empleos”.
Marco Acuña added: “las mujeres necesitan espacios dignos, cómodos y adecuados para la lactancia en el trabajo, aunque sea para una sola. Una es suficiente para que la empresa y los compañeros protejan y respeten sus derechos y los de sus hijos”.
In 2023, ICE opened a lactation room in its San Pedro de Montes de Oca offices to support a worker’s right to breastfeed. This measure was later included in the Ministry of Health’s Lactation Room Regulations in July. At present, ICE has eight dedicated spaces for breastfeeding.
