According to ILO, mandatory pregnancy testing is now considered as a discriminatory practice. The Norwegian Seafarers Union played an important role to this achievement at the ILO to stop sexist discrimination.
Specifically, ILO’s legal office published a statement, highlighting that ‘mandatory pregnancy testing will now be considered discrimination against women.’
The Norwegian Seafarers Union’s Director of Cruise Operations, Lena Dyring, commented
We are pleased that mandatory pregnancy testing is now considered a discriminatory practice and that this is supported by a large number of governments, a message we feel women seafarers deserve to hear loud and clear.
She continued that the Union will keep on campaigning in favour of women in shipping.
During her speech she added that the Union wishes to collaborate with maritime partners and find ways to provide assistance to women whose pregnancy requires a shift in their normal work and provide a mechanism which guarantees their re-entry to the industry after giving birth.
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This was adopted at an ILO meeting in March where, for the first time, the three spokespeople for the ship owners, the governments and the seafarers were all women, including the Director of Cruise Operations, Lena Dyring.
