In 2022, an average of three pregnant workers and recent mothers were dismissed per day last year, show data from the Commission for Equality of Labor and Employment (CITE), cited by JN.
Last year, CITE received 1395 communications from employers who did not renew fixed-term contracts for pregnant or breastfeeding employees, as well as workers on parental leave. Data corresponding to an increase of 13% compared to 2021. The newspaper also writes that only eight of the reported cases refer to men, who were, at the time, on parental leave.
It was in the first year of the pandemic, in 2020, that a new maximum was recorded in the dismissal of pregnant or breastfeeding employees and workers on parental leave, with the communication of 2107 cases. This number dropped the following year, 1238 communications, but in 2022 it rose again to 1395.
Between 2017 and December 31 of last year, CITE received 9296 communications about these waiver situations.
Heard by JN, Fátima Messias, coordinator of the CGTP Commission for Equality between Women and Men, said that this is a “known reality”, noting that “several women with precarious ties, when they communicate to companies that they are pregnant, do not see the contracts be renewed”.
“These situations have repercussions on other workers who, eventually, may want to start a family, but end up postponing that project until they have a more consolidated professional situation”, indicated Cristina Trony, president of the UGT Women’s Commission.
Of the jobs created in Portugal in 2022, 76% were precarious, of which 53.5% are women, the newspaper also indicates.
“This is the visible face of a reality that we believe to be superior”, said Fátima Messias, admitting that many denunciations reach the CGTP. She stated that when there are indications that the reason for non-renewal is related to motherhood, the unions intervene.
The trade unionist regrets that these practices result from legislation that enshrines parental rights and, at the same time, weakens them by “not safeguarding a safe and stable job”, by “deregulating hours” and “by not guaranteeing an effective conciliation”.
“The reasons that led to the signing of the contract no longer exist, work has reduced or sales are lower…”. These are some of the justifications given by the companies.
“There are always economic reasons that, in practice, hide authentic discrimination”, considered Fátima Messias.
Last year, CITE issued 60 opinions on the dismissal of 63 pregnant workers and five employees on parental leave. In 38 situations, the dismissal was not justified, indicated the commission.
In the last five years, CITE issued 396 opinions and, in 51.2% of cases, they were unfavorable to dismissal, according to JN.
