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Air hostesses aborted pregnancies for fear of losing their jobs: Witness
Several SriLankan Airlines flight attendants had aborted their pregnancies as they feared they would lose their jobs, with the national carrier’s human resources division giving a draconian interpretation to a clause in the company’s manual.
This startling revelation was made by a former flight stewardess who was forced to resign by the company’s Human Resources division after she discovered she was pregnant. Senior Flight Attendant Yasanga Naomi de Alwis was giving evidence before the Commission appointed to investigate large-scale fraud and corruption in SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan catering and Mihin Lanka.
She told the commission she was subjected to illegal and unfair treatment following her pregnancy. She said HR division head Pradeepa Kekuluwala threatened to terminate her services (which would prevent her from rejoining the airline) if she did not hand over her resignation.
She claimed that some of her fellow crew members had opted for abortions for fear of losing their jobs and this was because Mr. Kekulawala and his team arbitrarily interpreted the policy and ignored the law.
“Some of them faced financial difficulties and were dependent on their jobs, so they resorted to abortion,” she said. “The company policy at the time was that a flight stewardess who had worked for three years in that capacity before becoming pregnant would not be fired from the job. She would have to be temporarily transferred to another department or be allowed to work in ground handling at the airport or be offered unpaid leave for two years.”
Ms. de Alwis, who joined the airline in 2008 was taken on a three-year contract period before she was made permanent in May 2011. Less than 11 months later, she was forced to resign after confirming her pregnancy with the company doctor.
“The first question the doctor asked me was didn’t I think I was too young to get pregnant, she said. “This offended me. I got married in 2009 and became pregnant three years later when I was 24.”
Ms. de Alwis said she then asked the HR division if she could obtain two years unpaid leave in terms of the company rules. The airline told her she would have to work at the airport as ground staff, but before she could begin working she was asked to hand over her resignation.
The witness said she was told to resign as the HR division claimed she had not completed three years, though she insisted she was going on her fourth year. She had refused to hand over her resignation after being encouraged not to do so by the Flight Attendants Union’s then President Charith Abeywickrema. Instead, she had taken a letter and gone to meet Mr. Kekulawala.
“He told me I had to work for six years before becoming pregnant, which would be three years on a contract basis and three years as a permanent employee. This is not mentioned anywhere in the company manual. He then told me to tender my resignation immediately and stop wasting his time,” Ms. de Alwis said.
Senior State Counsel (SSC) Fazly Razik, who led the evidence said, “So what they are indicating is you can’t get pregnant until you are 27.”
Commission Chairman Anil Gooneratne pointed out that Mr. Kekulawala was trying to impose his personal views on pregnancy and employment and pass them off as company policy in total violation of the law.
Mr. Razik drew attention to the Shops and Offices Act, according to which it is an ‘offence’ to terminate an employee’s services over a pregnancy.Commenting on the women who had to resort to abortions, Mr. Razik asked the witness if she thought they would have been pushed to such a decision, if they had been treated fairly and in terms of the law. The witness responded they wouldn’t.
Ms. de Alwis said the rule was implemented in a discriminatory manner as female pilots and first officers were given the option of two years un-paid leave, upon becoming pregnant.
The sittings will continue on Wednesday.