Labour Dept. requests private sector to let pregnant employees work from home

• Urges maximum measures be taken to limit exposure of pregnant employees to others
• Employers encouraged to follow guidelines till virus threat is over
• Family Health Bureau Director warns pregnant women are particularly at risk during third wave
• Total of 5 pregnant women have succumbed to virus to date; nearly 100 infected

The Labour Department yesterday requested private sector employers to provide a ‘work from home’ option to pregnant employees with immediate effect, after taking into consideration the current spike in the number COVID-19 positive pregnant women being reported daily.

The request was made officially to the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) and the Board of Investment (BOI), to notify their respective members and companies to adhere to these guidelines, as there has been in a rise health complications reported particularly for pregnant women during this third wave of COVID-19.

“We urge employers to take maximum possible measures to limit the exposure of pregnant employees with regard to physical contact with other employees and the general public,” Labour Department Commissioner General Prabath Chandrakeerthi told the Daily FT.

The Commissioner General also said that the number of working hours of ‘work from home’ must align with the law.

“Employers are encouraged to follow these guidelines till the COVID-19 threat in the country is declared over by the Health Ministry,” he added.

A total of five pregnant women have succumbed to the virus so far and all of them were during the third wave of the pandemic.

Family Health Bureau (FHB) Director Dr. Chithramalee De Silva said that pregnant women are at particular risk at present. She advised pregnant women to refrain from venturing outdoors for daily essential activities.

Dr. de Silva also said a considerable number (close to 100) pregnant women have contracted COVID-19 and are being treated in hospitals across the country. (Cdes)