TAIPEI: The Executive Yuan approved a set of regulations yesterday that would allow women to breastfeed in public spaces, which was seen as a step toward better protection of the rights of Taiwanese women.

The regulations stipulate that women should not be banned, dispersed, disturbed or asked to move if they are breastfeeding their babies in public areas.

According to the draft bill, government agencies and business premises with floor space of more than 500 square meters, as well as public service facilities with over 1,000 square meters of floor space, must be equipped with clearly marked breastfeeding rooms.

Breastfeeding rooms must be established on the premises of such facilities, which include railway and metro stations and airport terminals, within one year of the promulgation of the regulations, the draft bill states.

Failure to install breastfeeding rooms and clearly mark them could result in fines of NT$6,000 ($183) to NT$30,000, according to the bill.

Owners and staff of such establishments will be subject to a fine between NT$4,000 and NT$20,000 if they fail to cooperate during random checks conducted by designated local government agencies, it adds.

The Executive Yuan will soon submit the new regulations to the Legislative Yuan for approval.

A survey carried out by the Department of Health (DOH) found that close to 60 percent of the respondents supported the idea of setting up breastfeeding rooms in public facilities.

According to the DOH, 54.3 percent of Taiwan's women breastfeed in the first month after their babies are born, but the percentage falls to 37.9 percent two months later and to 25.8 percent four months down the line.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 01/22/2010 page2)