Women dairy workers in cooperative dairies in the southern state of Kartnataka, India, have won improved maternity protection, including increased paid maternity leave from 135 to 180 days.
BAMUL Employees Union, a member of the IUF-affiliated Dairy Employees Federation of India (DEFOI), responded to changes in public sector regulations on maternity protection by demanding that the management of cooperative dairies introduce the same rights and benefits for dairy workers. These demands were finally met with substantial improvements - including 180 days paid maternity leave.