Qatar carrier won’t sack crew over pregnancy

DOHA: Qatar Airways was shamed into relaxing its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or marrying in their first five years of employment, a labor federation said Thursday, while welcoming the move.
“Qatar Airways has been shamed into action, and that’s a tremendous advance,” International Transport Workers Federation President Paddy Crumlin said in a statement.
“No amount of hiding behind ‘best airline’ awards has kept the truth about how staff are treated from emerging.”
The ITF said the move, confirmed by the Doha-based carrier Wednesday, was a “first victory” for staff rights. And it said that, working closely with staff, it “will continue to campaign for further change and respect for workers’ rights.”
Company executives said Wednesday the restrictions had been phased out over the past six months. “Our policies have evolved with the airline’s growth,” a spokeswoman said.
Under the new regulations, women who get pregnant are now offered temporary ground jobs and staff may get married after notifying the company.