'Imaginative Reform' of Parental Leave can help Tackle Workplace Discrimination against Pregnant Women

27 Jun 2011

Congress said today (June 27) that evidence of continuing discrimination against a significant number of working women was clear proof of the need to reform our systems of parental leave to ensure equality of opportunity.

The evidence is contained in Pregnancy at Work: A National Survey which was produced by the HSE's Crisis Pregnancy Programme and the Equality Authority.

It concludes that a "significant minority" of pregnant women at work experience problems, with up to 30% of women reporting "unfair treatment". This included loss of bonuses, denial of promotions and dismissal.

Congress Equality Officer David Joyce said: "The report is welcome as it provides clear evidence that discrimination is alive and well in the Irish workplace and provides us with an opportunity to finally end these practices.

"It is also clear from the findings that women who have had a positive experience cite protective factors such as the existence of an equality policy, and flexible working arrangements - all of which are more likely to be present in unionised workplaces," Mr Joyce pointed out.

He said that with imaginative reform of Ireland's 'leave system' we could promote equality of opportunity and this could take place with the transposition of the EU Parental Leave Directive. The directive must be transposed into Irish law by March 2012.

"Previous studies have shown that gender imbalance in employment is harmful to both men and women and to the economy as a whole. Gender equality offers an innovative and tangible tool for expediting economic recovery and for generating a new era of sustainable prosperity. Reorganising our system of leaves can contribute to this and unleash a wave of creativity and productivity in Irish workplaces," Mr Joyce said.

 

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