How do breastfeeding breaks at work work, and what certificate is needed?

If you are breastfeeding when you go back to work as an employee or apprentice, you are entitled, on request, to breastfeeding time:

• two breaks of 45 minutes each working day, one at the start and one at the end of your working day;
• or a single 90-minute break, if your working day only has a one-hour break or you cannot breastfeed near your workplace.

Breastfeeding time counts as normal working time, so it is paid.

The certificate: under the labour code, a breastfeeding woman is an employee who is still breastfeeding beyond the 12 weeks after the birth and who informs her employer with a medical certificate sent by registered letter. So ask your doctor for a certificate stating that you are breastfeeding, and send it by registered letter with your request. Guichet.lu offers a template request letter on its page for pregnant and breastfeeding women (opens in a new tab).

Your employer may ask for a new certificate confirming that you are still breastfeeding, but not at too frequent intervals. The law sets no time limit on breastfeeding time.

If you work part-time, breastfeeding time is worked out in proportion to your daily working hours: on a 4-hour working day, for example, you get one 45-minute break. The Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) gives examples for other daily hours.

Other protections while breastfeeding:

• you cannot be required to work overtime;
• you can ask to be exempted from night work (22.00 to 6.00) if the occupational health doctor finds it a risk, and this can be extended until your child's first birthday;
• your employer must assess risky tasks and, on the occupational health doctor's advice, adapt your job, move you to another job on the same pay, or exempt you from work.

For questions about your rights, you can contact the ITM.