Last update - 00:00 22/11/2006
Bill proposes 6-month jail term for firing pregnant employees
By Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondent
The Knesset Committee on the Status of Women on Wednesday approved a new bill proposing a maximum sentence of six months in jail for employers who fire workers who are pregnant, on maternity leave, residing in battered-women shelters or undergoing fertility treatments.
The committee passed the bill in preparation for its presentation in a first reading at Knesset.
The bill, initiated by MKs Gideon Sa'ar (Likud), Nadia Hilou and Orit Noked (Labor), proposes taking a harder line on punishment for these crimes.
At present, the maximum sentence for employers is a month of active jail time or a double fine totaling NIS 67,300.
As a direct consequence of the harsher punishment, the statute of limitation on the crimes would be extended from the present period of one to five years.
"Because these are severe crimes, the punishment for them should be more severe, thus causing greater deterrence," said Sa'ar.
He added that the short statute of limitations currently in place does not allow women to realize their rights in time, thus seriously hindering the possibility of enforcing the law.