EMPLOYMENT ACT

EMPLOYMENT ACT

**

(Review to safeguard maternity needs of pregnant female employees): **

62.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower whether he will review and amend the Employment Act to better safeguard the maternity benefits of pregnant female employees in the event of retrenchment or unfair dismissal.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Under the Employment Act, it is already an offence to dismiss or terminate the employment of an employee during her maternity leave. Dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy is also considered unfair dismissal under the Employment Act.

Pregnant employees are aware of these rights under the Employment Act as evidenced by the complaints received by MOM. Of the 71 claims in 2006 from pregnant employees relating to the termination of employment, 36 have been concluded, 20 were withdrawn by the employee, and the rest are pending investigation.

Out of the 36 concluded cases, 33 of them were successfully settled with payment received from the employers. These included six cases involving pregnant employees who were retrenched. For another three cases, MOM was satisfied that the cause of dismissal was not on account of the employee's pregnancy, but on grounds of poor performance or misconduct. In other words, for 90% of the cases where the employee has pursued her claim, MOM investigations have substantiated the complaint and the employee has obtained redress.