The Knesset's Committee on the Status of Women convened Wednesday to discuss the growing trend of employers dismissing pregnant women, or those undergoing fertility treatments, and the possible ways of fighting this disconcerting trend
Israel's Employment
of Women Law (1954) forbids firing pregnant women who have six-months seniority in the workplace and women undergoing fertility treatments regardless of seniority and any employer who wants to dismiss them must first obtain the authorization of the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry's Women's Employment Commissioner to do so.
The Status of Women committee has received disconcerting data suggesting that the number of employer requests filed with the Women's Employment Commissioner has been steadily rising: Some 1,277 claims were filed in 2007, 1,609 in 2008 and 814 since January of 2009.- 70% of which have been granted.
The most recent increase in attributed to the financial crisis the Israeli market is struggling with.
"Women are the first to suffer from the financial crisis," said Head of the Israel Women's Network Nurit Zur. "Discrimination against women in the workplace in general and pregnant women in particular is a widespread phenomenon which worsens in times of crisis."
Naamat, the Movement for the Advancement of the Status of Women, said that its legal office receives over 1,500 similar complains every year.
Naamat Chairwoman Talia Livni has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to
bar employers from firing women during the financial crisis, altogether.
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