SBI withdraws revised instructions over recruitment of pregnant women
SBI withdraws revised instructions over recruitment of pregnant women
Decision follows severe criticism from public at large
New Delhi, Jan. 29 (Delhi Crown): Country’s largest public sector bank – the State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday announced to keep in abeyance its revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates and continue with the existing instructions in the matter.
The decision was taken after public outcry against the SBI’s revised instructions, which stated that woman candidates with more than three months of pregnancy, were considered “temporarily unfit”, and they could join service within four months after delivery.
The SBI tweaked its recruitment rules saying that women candidates with more than three months of pregnancy will be considered “temporarily unfit” to join the service.
The revised recruitment instruction had evoked a sharp reaction from among the public against the public sector bank, even as the Internet exploded with outrage on what it called “discriminatory” rules on part of the SBI.
Netizens ranging from politicians to corporate professionals and human rights bodies took to their respective social media handles to request the country’s largest lender to revoke its revised guidelines.
Today in an official statement, the Bank made a bid to defend over the revised recruitment instruction saying – “During the Covid period, as per Government instructions, pregnant women employees were exempted from attending office and allowed to work from home.”
It further stated – “However in view of the public sentiments the SBI has decided to keep the revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates in abeyance and continue with the existing instructions in the matter.”
