Over the weekend, I was told that a renowned public-listed company decided to introduce a clause in their new employment contract:
“If you accept this offer, you agree that if you become pregnant during the first year of service, you will not be entitled to any paid maternity allowance.”
Like, seriously…
While there’s no law explicitly prohibiting a company from including such an undemure and unmindful clause, I hope they know there’s a stronger law that will prevent it from being enforced in Malaysia – The Employment Act 1955 (DUN DUN DUN)!
Section 7 of the Employment Act clearly states that if any terms and conditions in a contract are LESS FAVOURABLE to an employee than those prescribed by Employment Act 1955, the clause shall be VOID and of NO EFFECT.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Be careful, bosses. Remember, it takes years to build a reputation and just seconds to destroy it. So, as Warren Buffet would say, think again and decide if you want to do things differently.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
