SBI’s guidelines on pregnant women criticised; What's whole matter?

Ground Report | New Delhi: SBI’s guidelines on pregnant women; State Bank of India has withdrawn the circular describing pregnant women as 'unfit' for recruitment. This circular was being heavily criticized.

SBI’s guidelines on pregnant women

In a press release issued on Saturday, the bank said, "Keeping in view the sentiments of the people, SBI has decided to postpone the revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates. The extant instructions of the bank in this matter will continue.

SBI had said that women candidates who are pregnant for more than three months will be considered 'temporarily ineligible'. This rule was being criticized. Now it has been said on behalf of the State Bank of India that some sections of the media have called the amendment to the new norms discriminatory against women.

It has been said, "SBI has always been proactive towards the care and empowerment of its women employees, who now constitute about 25% of our workforce." The statement further read that as per government instructions during the COVID period, pregnant women employees were exempted from attending office and allowed to work from home.

DCW Chairperson described SBI’s new rule as illegal

Earlier, female candidates were eligible for appointment in SBI up to six months of pregnancy, subject to the certification of doctors. But in a December 31 circular, the bank declared pregnant women more than three months "temporarily ineligible" for the service. SBI said that such candidates can join work within four months of giving birth.

Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal had called the new SBI rules illegal and discriminatory. The panel had issued notice to SBI.

State Bank of India seems to have issued guidelines preventing women who are over 3 months pregnant from joining service & have termed them as ‘temporarily unfit’. This is both discriminatory and illegal. We have issued a Notice to them seeking withdrawal of this anti women rule. pic.twitter.com/mUtpoCHCWq

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) January 29, 2022

"As per media reports, a recent circular issued by the bank on December 31 prohibits women who are more than three months pregnant from joining the service," read the notice signed by Maliwal.

The DCW had said that SBI's circular was contrary to the maternity benefits given to women under the Social Security Code, 2020. "Moreover, it discriminates on the basis of gender, which is against the fundamental right provided under the Constitution of India."

The DCW had asked SBI to explain how the rules were framed and the details of the officials who approved them. It also asked the bank to submit a detailed report on the action taken in the matter.

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