Iberia airlines have been issued a fine after requiring female job candidates to take a pregnancy test.
The Spanish airline combined with British Airways in 2011, forming International Airlines Group. They were fined €25,000 by authorities on Spain’s Balearic Islands.
The airline had been issuing pregnancy tests within it’s initial medical test for new staff.
They claimed the measure was aimed at ensuring “the wellbeing of the baby and future mother”.
The tests and other mixed-gender examinations were carried out by Randstad, a human resources contractor, operating under Iberia.
Speaking to the Financial Times, a spokesperson for Iberia explained:
“It was part of the regular medical examination to start working at the company.”
“Some tasks in this sector are not supposed to be done by pregnant women, such as luggage handling.”
After receiving backlash on social media, Iberia insisted it had “at no moment” refused a woman for a role due to her pregnancy.
The company added that it had moved 60 pregnant employees to new roles since 2016. They also reportedly argued that it is customary in Spain to require pregnancy tests. Iberia also argued that they had recently hired five pregnant applicants for a handling position.
The General Workers’ Union released a statement that airlines had an obligation to protect pregnant workers from positions that could risk their pregnancy, but that being tested before becoming hired is a “a clear case of discrimination”.
Iago Negueruela, the work, trade and industry secretary for the Balearic Islands government, said the airline was guilty of a “very grave infraction”.
He added that men and women shouldn’t be given different tests before being hired.
The airline has since responded that they will now ‘trust’ their female employees to tell them of their pregnancy.
