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Chris Lau

A mother awarded HK$20,000 yesterday in a settlement with her former company, which she claimed had forced her to quit when she was pregnant, attacked the equality watchdog for not helping her.
Siu Kam-ying, 31, had approached the Equal Opportunities Commission for assistance because she felt aggrieved at her treatment by logistics company Coe International.
Speaking outside court yesterday, she said the watchdog had rejected her case because it said she was forced to leave rather than being fired.
"That means loads of cases would not qualify," said Siu, with her eight-month-old daughter in her lap. She said the commission's reluctance might discourage other people in similar situations from coming forward.
She eventually filed her case with the help of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers.
The company agreed to settle outside court yesterday, giving her HK$20,000 and a letter of apology.
Siu alleged that after she had told her bosses she was pregnant, her company told at least one colleague not to speak to her. She was also given a faulty chair to sit on.
And her boss sent her an email telling her she had to pick up her phone within three rings, increasing her workload. Yet the email was not sent to her colleague, she said.

The vice-chairwoman of the Association of Advancement of Feminism, Kwok Ka-chai, agreed that the watchdog could have done better. "There was a lack of sensitivity," she said.
The commission said it would not comment on individual cases due to privacy issues.
It also said the commission's decision not to step in despite an invitation by the court, which was told the two parties could resolve matters through mediation, came after "objective analysis".
"It is not the most ideal approach for the EOC to step in at every stage," said the watchdog, which has dealt with 594 complaints since 2010.
Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said the commission was more likely to take on a case when it decided to establish a precedent. For example, it might take on the case of a person being discriminated against for having five words in his Chinese name because it was rare, he said.


Hong Kong mother wins payout from ex-company then attacks equality watchdog for not helping after she was 'forced to quit' when pregnant

Equal Opportunities Commission no help, says Siu Kam-ying Image: Reuters

Equal Opportunities Commission chairperson Dr York Chow Yat-ngok. Photo: Felix Wong

News

Hong Kong

Education

Woman 'forced to quit job' when pregnant says EOC turned her down as she was not sacked


A mother awarded HK$20,000 yesterday in a settlement with her former company, which she claimed had forced her to quit when she was pregnant, attacked the equality watchdog for not helping her.
