SBI Withdraws Circular Stating Pregnant Women ‘Ineligible to Work’ After Controversy
Mumbai, 29th January 2022: State Bank of India has decided to hold the circular related to the recruitment of pregnant women. The bank stated in this regard on Saturday. After facing criticism, the State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday decided to suspend its circular on recruitment of pregnant women.
SBI had recently reviewed its ‘Fitness Standards for Recruitment in Banks’, clarifying certain criteria for pregnant women candidates. As per the fitness standards issued by the bank on 31st December 2021, if the pregnancy exceeds three months, the female candidate will be treated as temporarily ineligible and may be allowed to join work within four months after the birth of the child.
This decision was criticized by various people including trade unions and Delhi Commission for Women. The bank said in a statement that keeping in view the public sentiments, SBI has decided to hold the revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates and continue with the existing instructions.
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday, seeking withdrawal of the new guidelines.
Earlier, up to six months of pregnancy, female candidates were admitted to the bank under various conditions. SBI said the revised guidelines aimed to provide clarity on various health parameters as those instructions were not already clear or were too old.
