The number of sex discrimination cases handled by the Equal Opportunities Commission shot up by almost 80 per cent last year, including a doubling of cases involving pregnant women.
Chairwoman Anna Wu Hung-yuk said: 'Dismissal of pregnant staff became more prevalent, probably as a result of the economic downturn last year.' Complaints handled by the commission under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance which required investigation and conciliation increased 78.3 per cent from 152 in 1998 to 271 last year.
Ms Wu said the rise was caused partly by the increase in cases of sexual harassment from 55 in 1998 to 72 in 1999.
The number of pregnancy discrimination cases more than doubled - from 34 in 1998 to 71 last year.
Most of the 71 cases involved dismissal of pregnant employees, including some who were fired for 'poor performance' shortly after resuming work.
The Confederation of Trade Unions received 60 per cent more pregnancy discrimination cases last year with one fifth of the complaints involving dismissal after women returned from maternity leave.
The chairman of the confederation's women's affairs committee, Cheung Lai-ha, said an increasing number of employers were abusing the labour laws, which did not extend protection for pregnant staff beyond the first day back at work.
