The Institute for Human Rights (formerly the Equal Treatment Commission) has launched a poll titled 'Pregnant and Work: Regular or Hassle?' Through the website www.zwangerenwerk.nl, the Institute provides women a platform to report issues with employers related to pregnancy. Women can also assess if they've faced discrimination and access reliable information on the topic.
Research by the Institute in 2012 revealed that more than 45% of working women experienced negative impacts from pregnancy on their jobs. The 2012 annual report further highlighted the prevalence of pregnancy discrimination, with complaints rising 60% from the previous year.
Laurien Koster, president of the Institute, states: "It is our duty to raise awareness about human rights and keep them on the agenda. Protection against pregnancy discrimination is a fundamental human right. No one should face disadvantages at work due to pregnancy." Koster notes the problem's scale: "Many women report negative experiences but don't recognize them as discrimination due to widespread ignorance."
The annual report underscores the commonality of pregnancy discrimination, with a 60% increase in complaints. Over 65,000 women annually face discrimination due to pregnancy or young motherhood. Koster adds: "Women's rights remain a key focus for us, as equality for women in the Netherlands is not yet achieved. This is evident in both data and public attention. The issue will stay high on our 2013 agenda."
Situations featured in the online campaign are frequent but often not immediately seen as discriminatory—for instance, closer scrutiny of an employee's performance by a supervisor.
Clear examples include:
Pregnancy discrimination involves negative treatment in job applications or at work due to pregnancy, early motherhood, or plans for children. Other prevalent issues include unequal pay and barriers to promotion for women.
Reflection point: After reading this, have you experienced pregnancy discrimination?
