Pregnancy tests on women seeking employment in tea plantations

Several women who have sought employment in the tea plantations states that females are being subjected to a pregnancy test by the plantation companies before hiring them. If they are found to be pregnant, they are not granted employment in the company’s plantation.Central Provincial Councilor Murali Ragunathan had reportedly complained to the Human Rights Commission that when employing married females to the plantations, the officials had said that a pregnancy test would be carried before employing them.  Plantations Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe says that although he had not received complaints about the matter he would look into the allegation.