WUNRN
ILO - International Labour
Organization
"Around
70 countries have ratified at least one of three ILO
conventions relating to maternity protection. But the reality is
that many pregnant women and new mothers are still vulnerable in the
workplace."
MATERNITY PROTECTION AT WORK - LAWS
VS. PRACTICE
Many countries have ratified ILO
conventions on maternity protection, but pregnant women still face workplace
discrimination. Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
against Women (November 25), the ILO publishes guidelines on how to implement
maternity protection policies.
23 November 2012 - GENEVA (ILO News)
– Six months into her pregnancy, it was becoming increasingly difficult for
Liani* to endure hours of standing at her production line job in a plastics
factory in Indonesia.
Her back ached and her body felt weak with tiredness, but with no special
provision for pregnant workers, she had to continue.
Night shifts were even worse: Since the company does not provide transport, the
only way to get to work along the bumpy road between her home and the factory,
was on the back of her husband’s motorbike.
Case studies |
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“In October, I was six months pregnant,” she told ILO News. “One day I felt
sick and I asked the company for leave time to go to the doctor. In the night
the baby was born. It lived for two hours.”
“The doctor told me afterwards that it was because I was too tired. I was
standing for too long at work and on the way to the factory on the back of the
motorbike, the road was very broken and bumpy. It affected my pregnancy.”
Liani’s experience is not uncommon. She says another woman at the factory died
in childbirth. The baby did not survive.
Around
70 countries have ratified at least one of three ILO
conventions relating to maternity protection. But the
reality is that many pregnant women and new mothers are still vulnerable in the
workplace.
Discrimination against them is happening in rich, poor and middle income
nations, and it has worsened with the global economic crisis, says Laura
Addati, the ILO’s Maternity Specialist.
“With the economic crisis, there has been an increase of discrimination
complaints. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable. They tend to suffer
from discrimination at work because of the idea that maternity is a liability,”
Addati explained. “But the fact is that maternity protection produces enormous
benefits.”
Discrimination claims |
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ILO research has uncovered cases of
women being harassed and sacked after becoming pregnant, women being made to
sign pledges that they will not become pregnant, being forced to undergo
pregnancy tests by their employers and being denied paid maternity leave.
In some parts of the world, pregnant workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals
which could harm the foetus or, like Liani, have to stand all day and work
night shifts because no special provisions are made for them.
To tie in with the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women, the ILO, in
collaboration with a number of other UN agencies, has published guidelines to help organizations, government
ministries, workers and employers organizations strengthen and extend maternity
protection to women at work.
The aim of such protection is to preserve the health of the mother and her new
baby and to provide economic security for the women and their families. This
can be achieved through maternity leave, cash and medical benefits, health
protection in the workplace, employment protection and non-discrimination, and
breastfeeding at work.
But it is not just about helping individuals, said Addati. Maternity protection
has a significant impact on development, and research shows that it is of
benefit to employers as well as employees because it helps companies and
organizations retain valuable staff.
Disadvantaged women |
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“Maternity protection is important
in the fight against poverty, social inclusion, gender equality and maternal
and child health. There is a link between the level of spending on family
friendly policies, the level of employment of women and the level of child
poverty,” Addati said.
“That’s why maternity protection is not just a personal issue. It helps achieve
a number of global development goals, so we are talking about collective
responsibility. Governments, employers and workers need to work together in a
social dialogue so we can find solutions that meet the needs of all parties.”
* not her real name