ABSTRACT
The Pregnant Workers Directive identified pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth, or who are breastfeeding, as workers who face particular risks in the workplace. The Directive makes such workers a particular case for protection and makes provisions regarding the health and safety of this group, and adopts certain employment rights connected with pregnancy. A refusal to employ results in direct discrimination when the most important reason for the refusal applies only to one sex, rather than to employees, without distinction, of both sexes. Men and women workers are given the individual right to parental leave on the grounds of the birth or adoption of a child, in order to enable them to take care of that child, for at least four months, until an age of up to eight years. The right to adoption leave was introduced by the Employment Act 2002 and the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002.
