A law that extends paid maternity leave from 120 to 180 days has just been signed by Brazilian President Lula. Private companies will be able to opt out, but the government will grant tax breaks to those that adopt it. Altamiro Borges [pt] comments on the outcry: “the hegemonic media, reflecting the narrow interests of private enterprise, barked like dogs against the project. It has given almost exclusively space to cries of the capitalists. It has given no emphasis to the opinion of the experts”.