The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has today (2 July 2013) issued legal proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, Cap. 480 in the District Court, on behalf of two female security guards who alleged that the Defendant discriminated against them by not offering  them employment on the ground of their pregnancy. The Plaintiffs alleged that the Defendant had made repeated remarks about not hiring pregnant staff in recruitment talks, which indicated the company’s discriminatory policy against pregnant women.

The EOC has granted legal assistance in this case because it involves an important principle of eliminating pregnancy discrimination against job applicants at the pre-employment stage. By taking this case to Court, the EOC hopes to remind employers of the legal protection against pregnancy discrimination at various stages of employment.

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Equal Opportunities Commission
2 July 2013