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<!-- headline one : start --><TR>Just 3 months pregnant but no job offer
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM 27 years old and currently three months pregnant. I have gone for at least 10 job interviews in the past two months, but was turned down at each.
Most employers stated their interest in interviewing me for full-time positions until I informed them that I was pregnant.
When they heard this, each prospective employer or interviewer would suddenly tell me that he had a more suitable candidate in mind, or that he was not hiring immediately.
Even job agencies gave me replies like 'in this case, we will contact you in March 2010' (that is when I am due).
I applaud the Ministry of Manpower's efforts to persuade employers to adopt a more enlightened view in hiring pregnant mums.
But despite the efforts of the Government at improving the welfare of women in the workforce - and birth rates - employers are not doing their part. In order for a Singaporean citizen to be eligible for maternity leave, the ministry stipulates that the employee must have worked for the employer for at least 90 days before the child's birth.
Given my current stage of pregnancy, I fall within the guidelines and am eligible for employment for the next six months before my baby is born.
I can understand if an employer declines to hire me if I am more than six months pregnant.
Shouldn't employers base their hiring policies on the ability of the job candidates rather than focus on how long they can commit before they go on maternity leave?
I believe I am not the only pregnant woman who is facing this problem in Singapore. I hope employers will reconsider their hiring policies and realign their attitude with that of the Government.
Lim Sor Lan (Madam)
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<!-- headline one : start --><TR>Just 3 months pregnant but no job offer
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM 27 years old and currently three months pregnant. I have gone for at least 10 job interviews in the past two months, but was turned down at each.
Most employers stated their interest in interviewing me for full-time positions until I informed them that I was pregnant.
When they heard this, each prospective employer or interviewer would suddenly tell me that he had a more suitable candidate in mind, or that he was not hiring immediately.
Even job agencies gave me replies like 'in this case, we will contact you in March 2010' (that is when I am due).
I applaud the Ministry of Manpower's efforts to persuade employers to adopt a more enlightened view in hiring pregnant mums.
But despite the efforts of the Government at improving the welfare of women in the workforce - and birth rates - employers are not doing their part. In order for a Singaporean citizen to be eligible for maternity leave, the ministry stipulates that the employee must have worked for the employer for at least 90 days before the child's birth.
Given my current stage of pregnancy, I fall within the guidelines and am eligible for employment for the next six months before my baby is born.
I can understand if an employer declines to hire me if I am more than six months pregnant.
Shouldn't employers base their hiring policies on the ability of the job candidates rather than focus on how long they can commit before they go on maternity leave?
I believe I am not the only pregnant woman who is facing this problem in Singapore. I hope employers will reconsider their hiring policies and realign their attitude with that of the Government.
Lim Sor Lan (Madam)
