Newsroom
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved two Ministry of Health bills designed to revolutionize public and workplace support for breastfeeding in Cyprus. The move is part of a sweeping national strategy to protect, promote, and normalize breastfeeding across the island.
“These laws mark a critical leap forward in defending the rights of breastfeeding mothers and their children,” Minister of Health Michael Damianos declared after the Cabinet meeting. “We’re not just talking about supporting motherhood—we’re building a society that respects it.”
The proposed legislation mandates the creation of dedicated breastfeeding rooms in workplaces and sets strict minimum standards for their design and accessibility. “Breastfeeding workers will no longer have to choose between their careers and their children’s well-being,” Damianos stated. “This ensures they can breastfeed or pump milk while on the job without compromise.”
But the laws don’t stop at workplaces. The proposals also demand breastfeeding and milk-pumping rooms in public spaces, including hospitals, airports, malls, and government facilities. The goal? To make breastfeeding as effortless in public as it should be at home.
Damianos emphasized that these changes align with recommendations from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, framing them as part of a global push toward family-friendly societies. "This is more than policy—this is a cultural shift,” he said. “It’s a commitment to protecting motherhood and safeguarding the rights of the next generation.”
The bills will now head to the House of Representatives for debate, with Damianos expressing hope for swift approval. “This is a decisive step toward a Cyprus that doesn’t just tolerate breastfeeding but actively supports and champions it,” he said.
With these measures, Cyprus edges closer to becoming a society where mothers are empowered, workplaces are modernized, and children’s needs take center stage.
