asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the existence of morality clauses in the contracts of employment of many women, particularly nurses and teachers, which result in the sacking of unmarried women who become pregnant, if he will introduce amending legislation to abolish such clauses, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Employment Contracts Morality Clauses.
196.
No case of this kind has been reported to me.
Section 6 of the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977, provides that a dismissal shall be deemed to be unfair if it results wholly or mainly from the pregnancy of the employee. Moreover the legal advice available to me is that a clause in a contract of employment of the kind referred to by the Deputy would be void under section 13 of the Act and also under section 4 of the Employment Equality Act, 1977.
The 1977 Act provides for redress in cases of unfair dismissal.