Today, Working Women's Day, more than ever, it is a good day to review the labor rights of pregnant women.
The decision to be a mother is not easy for the working woman. Discrimination in the workplace is a latent reality faced by many women today.
Companies are afraid to hire women of childbearing age because of the costs that they will have to bear in leave and leave during pregnancy and when the baby is born, in addition to a work life marked by the “inconveniences” of motherhood.
With this panorama, it is not surprising that working women increasingly delay the time of being mothers.
Even despite maternal mobbing, there are many women who decide to be mothers, fortunately. For them it is very important thorough knowledge of labor rights, to avoid problems of any kind.
Communicate pregnancy to the company
The first thing to consider when getting pregnant is how to communicate the news to the company. It must be done in writing and with acknowledgment of receipt.
While legally, there is no obligation to communicate the pregnancy, each case is a world and depends on the employment relationship you have, it is common sense Let us know what a baby is waiting for.
Especially it should be communicated if the work being performed involves a risk to the mother or the fetus (such as working in an x-ray service, for example), in which case the change of position must be requested.
It should also be taken into account that gynecological exams will be taken, therefore, if this is the case, you will need to have continued absences to see a doctor. In this case there must also be an express communication of the pregnancy.
Prevention of occupational hazards
He welfare of mother and fetus In the workplace it must be a primary objective for the company, so the prevention of occupational hazards during the period that the company is working on should be extreme.
The main thing is to tell the doctor about the job that is performed to assess whether it is compatible with pregnancy, requires a specific review or a change of job.
There are jobs that could pose a risk to the mother and / or the fetus as jobs with dangerous substances, that require physical effort or that impede adequate feeding of the mother, for example. In that case, the doctor must notify the company in writing.
Under the assumption of risk, the company has the obligation to change jobs for pregnant women, as long as possible, without modifying the contract or salary conditions.
Maternity leave
Another of the fundamental labor rights of pregnant women is the maternity leave request. You can start before delivery, the deadline for the beginning of the benefit being the day of the baby's birth.
Maternal leave It lasts for 16 weeks enjoyed continuously, of which at least 6 weeks have to be enjoyed after delivery. In cases of multiple births, the length of maternity leave is extended by two weeks for each additional child.
To request maternity leave, the mother must present the necessary documentation at any INSS office.
Finally, mention that in the workplace, pregnancy affects each woman to a different extent depending on their social security affiliation regime, depending on whether they are civil servants, employees of private or autonomous companies.
We hope this brief review by the labor rights of pregnant women May future working moms come in handy, as good information is key to asserting their rights.
