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Editor's Blog: Protection for pregnant employees
Thu, 08/21/2008 - 19:20 — colinlim
Some have wondered if four months of maternity leave will result in more pregnant employees losing their jobs. Thankfully, new rules will be put in place to prevent this from happening.
From January 2009, employers who fire pregnant employees within the last six months of their pregnancy will be made to pay maternity leave benefits.
No further details have been revealed yet, but such a move is definitely necessary, considering how the number of complaints from pregnant women who lost their jobs actually rose the last time maternity leave was extended.
Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has also announced that the third and fourth months of maternity leave can be taken any time in the first year of the child's birth, which will be particularly good news for employers of smaller companies.
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Comments
Protection is only for lawfully married woman
I have read the rules set. It only applies for pregnant woman who are lawfully married. Therefore single mom will not be protected. Even for baby bonus, it is only given to woman who are lawfully married.
I'm currently pregnant. Facing dismissal threats from Employer too. However I am a single mom. Sad to say he who fathered the child is one of the director of my company. He didn't want to take responsibility. It is a local family business. Though they are still paying me to date. (i'm 17weeks pregnant). However I am ask to stay at home and not to go to office at all. In view of this, in any dismissal, they will say that I have not been reporting to work in office. However I have my laptop and fax machine at home which I do all correspondence from home.
But I'm not protected by government. My employers do not need to pay if they dismiss me now that I'm pregnant.
Should not be taken for granted
I am doubling up for my colleague's work as she is on maternity leave now. Before she went on leave, she was on MCs at least 2 days a week. My boss, being a woman herself and mother of 2, was sympathetic as my colleague is almost 40 and allegedly the gyne said she needs a lot of rest. However we started to hear from other department people that my colleague was seen shopping and going hi-teas on her MC days. and she apparently told them that since the gyne can give her MCs, why not just make use of it? Ever since her frequent MCs, I took over 2 projects from her on top of her routine responsibilities. My work hours are extended and though my boss promised me that I will be compensated, I can't help by wondering if she is taking advantage of her situation and if she is interested in her job at all. Is this fair to the fellow workers, and to a larger extent, to employers?? Is maternity leave a perk / privilege for pregnant ladies? It seems to be so, especially with the enforcement by the government and on not allowing dismissal of pregnant ladies nearing their delivery. Companies will not dare to dismiss with the MOM rule in place even if there is ground for non-performance. This is a perk given to them at the expense of singles like me and employers.
sad but true (for now)
i'm sorry to hear about your predicament, but i think you're definitely not alone in feeling this way. with all the attention on creating more pro-family working environments in singapore now, it's inevitable that employers and singles like yourself are being shortchanged.
unfortunately, i don't think the situation is going to change in the near future. looking at the scale of the policies that the government has rolled out, increasing the birth rate is of utmost importance to the country at the moment. there's little that singles can do to retaliate against such unintended discrimination.
but if i were you, i would definitely do everything i can to let my bosses know that i'm working harder than ever, and that due compensation should be awarded. there's little use in getting upset over how your pregnant colleague uses her MC days, since it's entirely out of your control. just hang in there, keep open communication channels with your superiors, and hope that the situation will get better soon...
Protection for Pregnant Employees
Hmm.. wonder if this bodes good or ailing news for the generation of young and married but not pregnant women who will be entering the job market. Will their 'employability' rate be affected thus?
good and bad news
i think it's good and bad news for the group of women you have mentioned. good because of how employers might react adversely towards extended maternity leave by hiring more young and unpregnant employees; bad because of how this group of women will inevitably be expected to work harder for the same amount of remuneration if their colleagues happen to get pregnant...