Singapore Airlines will no longer sack cabin crew who become pregnant
- Before the new rules, stewardesses who disclosed they were pregnant were forced to quit the airline the day after submitting their child’s birth certificate
- With the aviation industry facing a post-pandemic labour shortage, the carrier is finally softening its policy in the face of more than a decade of criticism
In a statement responding to Monday’s article in The Straits Times, Singapore Air said pregnant cabin crew “may choose to work in a temporary ground attachment” and can resume flying duties after maternity leave.
Before the new rules, which took effect on July 15, stewardesses who disclosed they were pregnant were put on leave without pay and forced to quit the airline the day after submitting their child’s birth certificate, the newspaper said.
There was no ground work made available for pregnant crew, and to fly again, they had to reapply for a fresh job under a programme that didn’t guarantee re-employment, according to the report.
Singapore Air maintained the policy in the face of more than a decade of criticism. As long ago as 2010, gender equality groups were blasting the rules as discriminatory and unfair. With the aviation industry facing a post-pandemic labour shortage, the carrier is finally softening its approach.
