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Prime Minister’s wife opposes anti-pregnancy policy

Aug 30, 2015 News

“Women must not be forced into making a choice between bringing a child or keeping a job.” – Sita Nagamootoo

Sita Nagamootoo has voiced her strong opposition to the controversial “anti-pregnancy policy” which sees women within the disciplined forces and the City Constabulary facing termination as a result of getting pregnant.
Rather than this age old policy, necessary facilities should be put in place to accommodate a pregnant woman, the wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo stressed during a recent conference on gender and women.
Nagamootoo’s statement comes even as activists and the Social Protection Ministry continue attempts to remove the policy, which has been in place since the 19th century.
The issue gained national attention earlier this month when three female City Constables were issued with letters of dismissal because they had “violated” the department’s policy which prohibited them from becoming pregnant during their first two years of employment. The women were later reinstated following widespread protests.
The policy was instituted even though the constitution and the Prevention of Discrimination Act along with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act expressly prohibit discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy.
“Not so long ago I read into the local media that women were sent home because of this issue. For me, this reeks of gender insensitivity,” Nagamootoo said.
She stressed that the policy was not only “out of touch with reality” but was also a gross violation of the human rights of women and girls to choose how they want to live their lives.
“The answer to this problem is not to put out of the breadline women and girls who are facing this situation but rather for the authorities to provide necessary facilities that will allow for the care of the newborn while mothers are able to continue working,” Nagamootoo said.
She went on to say that measures must be considered to address practices and policies, laws and procedures and attitudes and beliefs that effectively serve to perpetuate and maintain gender inequalities within society.
For this, she said, there must be a partnership between the genders. “It is crucial that women work with men to bring about changes in attitudes and behaviours within all social settings, including the workplace,” she emphasised.
According to Nagamootoo, there are women in Guyana who are contributing meaningfully and who have “shattered the glass ceiling” and have made it to the top. On the other hand, there are many other women who experience shattered lives.
These women, she said, are in difficult positions because many of them are without jobs and skills. She stressed that Guyana must develop policies that will allow women to enter the world of opportunities and work just as easily as men do.
Meanwhile, Nagamootoo noted the women who choose to work as caregivers, and said that they too must be afforded with a level of importance and respect rather than be seen as inferior.
The Ministry of Social Protection is currently engaging the City Hall, the Guyana Defence Force and other organizations with similar policies in a bid to remove the discriminatory policy.

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