Iberia Halts Pregnancy Test Requirement After Fine
Jackie Reddy July 12, 2017
Spanish authorities say that asking female candidates to undergo a pregnancy test as part of the employment process is highly discriminatory and “constitutes a serious violation of labor law.”
Spanish flag carrier Iberia has been fined for requiring female cabin crew candidates to take pregnancy tests as part of its job application process, El Pais reports. The carrier will be forced to pay €25,000 ($28,681) and has said that it will no longer require potential applicants to undergo such tests.
This practice was uncovered by agents from the regional labor department operating in Spain’s Balearic Island province. The outlet reports that authorities had reportedly become aware of discriminatory practices at the airline in 2016, during the course of a campaign to combat workplace discrimination.
It was also found that Iberia was drawing up specific criteria for its candidates via Randstand, an external recruiter. Randstand would then carry out interviews and any necessary medical tests on applicants.
The demand for a pregnancy test, reports the paper “constitutes a serious violation of labor law”. Unnamed sources have said that potential applicants can now voluntarily elect to inform the carrier of their pregnancy.
Faced with a fine, Iberia defended its practices. The requirement of a pregnancy test, it said, was to “avoid assigning them [female candidates] a task that would put their pregnancy at risk.” The carrier also said that asking potential candidates to take these kinds of tests is a common practice in Spain.
Iberia reiterated that it would not refuse to employ an applicant due to pregnancy.
The carrier’s stance has drawn the ire of some on social media. Blogger Eva Snijders tweeted, as quoted by the BBC, “You need help to improve your arguments. Hello, we are Iberia and we live in medieval times.”
Iberia’s policy also drew criticism from the country’s health minister, Dolors Montserrat, who said, “Maternity can in no way be an obstacle for access to a job.”
The carrier will have the opportunity to appeal the fine.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
Pregnancy is a legit concern for someone in the air. Especially someone that must be capable of lifting humans out of a seat and getting them outside.
There is a safe lifting limit for everyone, COS_Flyer, not a specific one for pregnant women. So, no, the airline does not need to know. It is up to the woman to inform them, if she so wishes, and at an appropriate time for her. And that normally wouldn't be at a very early pregnancy stage, if at all.
A pregnancy can certainly impact a safe lifting limit for a woman. I'm not sure what the "non-pregnant" lifting limits are for male or female FAs, but I'd want to err on the side of caution and arrange a reasonable accommodation for an FA I knew was pregnant. Of course, that requires that the airline know of the pregnancy. So I can certainly see a reason for the airline to be provided with that information.