In a statement, the wing’s chief, Heng Seai Kie, also said bosses should not be allowed to dismiss their female employees upon knowing they were pregnant.
She said Wanita MCA supported the call by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress for the government to introduce legislation prohibiting employers from questioning the pregnancy status of female candidates during job interviews.
Heng said this was because pregnancy was a fundamental right of women and this must be respected by employers.
“Moreover, newborns are not delivered overnight. Apart from cases of premature babies or induced births, all mothers and employers have nine long months to plan their childbirth, from maternity leave to the related job assignment.”
Heng also said this would also be in line with the government’s policies in support of women in the workforce such as having more female participation in the workforce as well as reserving at least 30% of decision-making posts and board of directors in all public-listed companies and government-linked companies for women.
“Therefore, it is time the government and the private sector provided expectant mothers a more secure and conducive working environment,” she said, adding the sacrifices and burdens of pregnant women should be appreciated.
Recently, MTUC secretary-general N Gopal Krishnam called for the enactment of a law to protect pregnant workers after a court slashed an award of RM300,000 in damages to RM30,000 for a woman in a landmark gender discrimination lawsuit against the government.
He also said the practice of prospective employers asking job candidates if they are pregnant should be made illegal.
In the court case, temporary teacher Noorfadilla Ahmad Saikin had sued the government for refusing to employ her because she was pregnant.
Noorfadilla did not reveal her pregnancy at a job interview in Hulu Langat for a temporary teacher position in 2009 and was also not asked whether she was expecting. She was three months’ pregnant then.
When she attended a briefing two weeks later, she collected a placement notice. She and other women were asked to come forward if they were pregnant. She and two other women stepped forward and had their placement notices retracted that same day.
The Shah Alam High Court ruled the government had discriminated against Noorfadilla and held that the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) had the force of law in Malaysia. She was awarded RM300,000 in 2014.
However, this was reduced to RM30,000 this week by the same Shah Alam High Court. The court held that the original sum was inappropriate and tantamount to a “handsome profit” for the woman, according to Malay Mail Online.