Pregnant Woman Dismissed from Work

Four-month-pregnant woman Elene Berdzenishvili was sacked from work. She was a specialist at a legal service in Telavi district administration Official document on her dismissal states she was dismissed as a result of personnel reduction. Though Law on Public Service states that “employee (woman) cannot be fired from work during pregnancy or upbringing a child till 3 years, or for long-term disability or health conditions, or for the results of certification”.

Elene Berdzenishvili worked at the Telavi district administration till January 21 in 2013. As she told Human Rights Centre, after dismissal she petitioned to interim governor Zurab Kurashvili to restore her to work. In reply to that, she was told that the administration was not informed about her pregnancy.

“Everyone knew that I was pregnant, because my belly is easy perceivable. Furthermore, the law does not oblige me to provide the employer with any documents before maternity leave,” said Elene Berdzenishvili.

According to Levan Berdzenishvili, the head of legal department, he did not know about pregnancy of Elene Berdzenishvili. Though, he refuses to re-employ Elene even if she provides relevant documents to the agency.

Elene Berdzenishvili has already appealed to the Telavi district Court and will try to prove her truth there.

Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti