XN000022-1987-07-01 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987

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MATERNITY LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE IMPROVED

THE EMPLOYMENT | AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 PROVIDES A BALANCED PACKAGE OF MEASURES WHICH WOULD BENEFIT BOTH EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON MICHELANGELO PAGLIARI, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR PAGLIARI SAID THAT IN RETURN FOR GREATER PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR DISMISSAL, A PREGNANT EMPLOYEE WOULD GIVE GREATER NOTICE OF HER INTENTION TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE, AND, IN RETURN FOR KEEPING HER JOD OPEN UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK, THE BILL PROVIDED) THE EMPLOYER WITH GREATER ASSURANCES THAT THE EMPLOYEE WOULD DO SO.

HE SAID THAT THE RIGHT OF A FEMALE EMPLOYER ΤΟ UNPAID MATERNITY LEAVE WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1970 TOGETHER WITH MEASURES TO PROTECT HER FROM DISMISSAL ONCE SHE HAD GIVEN 1 STIPULATED PERIOD OF NOTICE OF HER INTENTION TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE.

"THIS RIGHT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED IN 1981 BY THE INTRODUCTION OF TEN WEEKS' PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR TIL SAME EMPLOYER FOR FORTY WEERS OR MORE AND BY THE EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD OF NOTICE FROM 8 WEEKS TO 12," HE ADDED.

THE LEGAL POSITION REMAINED THAI 1 PREGNANT EMPLOYEE MIGHT NOT HAVE HER EMPLOYMENT TERNEVATEL FROM THE DATE ON WHICH SHE GAVE NOTICE OF HER INTENTION TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH SHE WAS DUE TO RETURN TO WORK ON THE EXPIRY OB HER MATERNITY LEAVE.

"HOWVER, UNDER THE LAW AS IT NOW

STANDS, THE EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO GIVE THIS NOTICE WITHIN TWELVE WEEKS OF THE EXPECTED DATE OF HIER CONFINEMENT AND MANY OF OUR SLIGHTLY-BUILT LOCAL YOUNG LADIES DISPLAY DISTINCT EVIDENCE OF THEIR CONDITION AT A MUCH EARLIER TIME, HE SAID.

"

"THIS HAS GIVEN RISE TO ALLEGATIONS BY LABOUR GROUPS THAT UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS HAVE DISMISSED PREGNANT EMPLOYEES BEFORE THEY FALL WITHIN THE TWELVE WEEK PERIOD AND THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THESE ALLEGATIONS," HE ADDED,.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS BILL ENHANCED THE PROTECTION ALREADY PROVIDED IN EXISTING LEGISLATION PY REMOVING REFERENCE TO A PERIOD OF TWELVE WEEKS' NOTICE PRIOR TO CONFINEMENT AND BY STIPULATING THAT AN EMPLOYER MIGHT GIVE NOTICE OF HEP INTENTION TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE AT ANY TIME AFTER HER PREGNANCY HAD BEEN CERTIFIED.

"SHE WILL THUS DE PROTECTED FROM DISMISSAL THROUGHOUT HER PREGNANCY PROVIDED SHE OBTAINS THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATE AND PRESENTS IT TO HER EMPLOYER. THIS SHOULD ALSO GIVE THE EMPLOYER A LONGER PERIOD OF NOTICE TO ENABLE HIM TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO COVER THE ABSENCE OF A PREGNANT EMPLOYED, HE SAID,

י.

THE BILL