The Australian Human Rights Commission is conducting a national review of discrimination in relation to pregnancy at work and return to work after parental leave.
The Commission views this as an ongoing issue and the review will look at the nature, prevalence and consequences of such discrimination.
The Commission receives a significant number of complaints in this area each year, with 21 percent of complaints received by the Commission under the Sex Discrimination Act in 2011-2012 related to pregnancy or family relations. In the 2012 Australian Bureau of Statistics report Pregnancy and employment transitions 2012, 19 percent of women employees reported experiencing discrimination in the workplace during pregnancy.
The Commission will collect data via consultations with community groups, roundtables with stakeholders, a national telephone survey and online submissions.
Individuals can provide online submissions to the review here.
As part of the review process NSW unions have been invited to participate in a consultation on Thursday 7 November from 9.30-11am at the AHRC Office (Hearing Room 2, Level 3, 175 Pitt Street)
The Commission is interested in hearing from union officials and also women and men who have experienced pregnancy discrimination.
If you are interested in attending or making a contribution, please contact the Professional team at the Association. The invitation can be read in more detail here: Invitation to consultation with Unions NSW members.
More detailed background information on the review is available in the Issues Paper.
Factsheet: Australian Human Rights Commission – National Review 2013 on Pregnancy and Return to Work
