Labour laws must be fair to pregnant staff

IT IS heartening to read the report “Cutting out on discrimination against pregnant women” (The Star, March 28) New laws must be implemented to prevent the discrimination of working pregnant women.

The high cost and difficulty in getting a maid already makes life for pregnant women very tough.

When working pregnant women are discriminated against, this may result in the postponement of having children. The low birth rates in urban areas is already a matter of great concern.

This is because the discrimination coupled with a need for dual incomes to cope with the high living costs will discourage women from having children.

It is very common in Australia for women to be given three months paid maternity leave. On top of it, the new mothers are allowed to go on unpaid leave for another nine months and they will be allowed to return to their original positions after that.

My daughter-in-law is giving birth in September and her superiors have told to go on leave for one year after the birth of her child with assurances that she will not be discriminated against and would resume her manager’s position on her return.

I heard that my son will be given two months paternity leave and can also take unpaid leave for another 10 months without loss of his position after the leave.

We hope that Malaysian employers will review their conditions on maternity and paternity leave.

This will help to encourage child birth which is important in maintaining the population of our country.

The current ratio of aged people to young people is not a healthy one and, as such, working women must be encouraged to have more children.

Therefore, laws that prevent and to discourage employers from discriminating against pregnant women must be implemented as soon as possible.

Tough action must be taken against employers who flout such laws.

More effort must also be made to create awareness among employers to not discriminate against pregnant women.