Bill passed to include fertility treatment in employee protection laws
Knesset law committee approves bill forbidding employee discrimination against women undergoing fertility treatments. 'I know of many women who were fired because they were absent due to fertility treatments. This law is crucial,' one mother says
"Better late than never," said mother of twins Pnina Bat-Zvi after the Knesset law committee passed a bill outlawing discrimination against employees undergoing fertility treatment.
Bat-Zvi's twins were born when she was 50 years old, after a long period of receiving treatments. "After 25 years of fertility treatments in Israel, the law finally recognizes our rights," she said.
On Monday the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved the law proposed by Likud chairman MK Gideon Sa'ar, which extends the employment protection granted to pregnant women to employees undergoing fertility treatments as well.
A preliminary reading of the bill will be voted on in the Knesset plenum Wednesday.
"The aim of the bill is to legally anchor recognition that the state of pre-parenthood includes fertility treatments," MK Sa'ar said.
"Even if the employer is understanding, considerate and humane, you can't depend on that alone," Pnina Ben-Zvi says.
"Beyond that, you have to consider that fertility treatments might not work, and the employee may have long-term treatment. I know of a lot of despicable cases in which workers were fired because they were absent from work because of the treatments. This law is important," she said.
'Law mostly symbolic'
The Women's International Zionist Organization welcomed the decision as well. According to federation head Sarit Arbel, her organization receives 6,000 appeals yearly from women who suffer at their places of work during pregnancies or fertility treatments.
"This is very important legislation, especially because awareness of the issue is low – among both employees and employers. This law will protect employees undergoing fertility treatment, who are concerned they will suffer at their workplaces."
According to Attorney Irit Gazit, WIZO's chief legal consultant, the significance of the law is primarily symbolic.
"The law has declarative significance. Until today, the court recognized this defense on the interpretive level – as an auxiliary to employment protection laws. The court interpreted fertility treatment as part of pregnancy and parenthood. Today the matter of fertility is at the front door and no longer needs to rely on judicial interpretations," Gazit said.
Aviram Zino contributed to the report
