KUALA LUMPUR: Employers have no right to fire a pregnant worker who abides by all employment requirements.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said this when commenting on a case of a woman with a history of three premature births, who underwent treatment for her fourth pregnancy and was fired from her job.
The woman underwent shirodkar cerclage treatment, which was administered by her doctor to avoid dilation and premature delivery risks in her latest pregnancy.
When quoted by Sinar Harian, Sim urged the woman to lodge a report to the Labour Department and Department of Industrial Relations Malaysia.
"(I) ask that the worker immediately report the matter to the Labour Department. Workers may also report such a thing to the Department of Industrial Relations Malaysia. within 60 days of one's termination if one wishes to be reinstated in one's employment service," Sim said in a social media thread, which had highlighted the woman's case.
The case had been highlighted by the woman's obstetrician, Dr Imelda Balchin, who revealed that the woman had a high risk medical condition.
She said on Facebook that her patient was 37-weeks pregnant and had been in and out of the clinic several times when she was fired from her job.
She said the pregnant woman had had three stillborns due to premature deliveries in the past.
"For her fourth pregnancy, she came to look for me for help."
She said that the patient's shirodkar cerclage treatment required the latter to go to the clinic to ensure her health during pregnancy.
"At first, the patient did not come to the clinic because she needed to work but I 'lectured' her about the importance of coming to the clinic.
"I did not want her health to be ignored after we worked hard to conduct shirodkar cerclage. Then, after she had come to the clinic, she was fired," said Dr Imelda.
Despite the successful procedure, the doctor said she felt very guilty when the patient was fired from her job.
"Why are there such inhumane bosses? This is a pregnant mother who had lost her babies in her womb three times before. How could you fire a pregnant woman?," she said.
Via the same Facebook posting, Dr Imelda had asked for opinions from netizens about getting a lawyer for the patient.
"We must uphold the rights of people who have been wronged. I want to encounrage patients to uphold their rights."