Cricket Australia has defended its controversial policy of asking women to declare if they are pregnant when they sign a central contract. Its chief executive, James Sutherland, hit back at the criticism – which argues that the clause is discriminatory – by saying that the organisation has not broken any rules and the policy was a “health and safety issue”.
It is unlawful in Australia to ask a woman if she is pregnant before employment – under the Sex Discrimination Act – while the England & Wales Cricket Board does not have a “notification of pregnancy” rule for women cricketers. CA and the Australian Cricketers Association [ACA] have started formal talks over a new pay deal but players have raised concerns about a number of “outdated at best and rather condescending” issues relating to female players. However, when questioned on the subject, Sutherland said: “We are fully aware of our obligations as an employer.
“We are asking the lady to declare to the doctor on a confidential basis so the doctor who services the team that she plays for can be aware and if anything untoward happens on the cricket field or at training or whatever, the needs of health and safety can be serviced.
“We’ve worked through what we both agree is best ... it’s a health and safety issue. The issue is being somewhat misrepresented or misunderstood ... to say we’re stopping a pregnant woman from playing or from being able to sign a contract, that’s simply not the case.”
The Southern Stars all-rounder Grace Harris said she doubted whether she would try to start a family during her cricket career but was more forthright on the ACA’s push for maternity leave.
“They definitely should [have maternity leave]. It’s offered at other jobs, so if you’re an office worker you’re getting maternity leave,” Harris said. “It would be great for females, to keep your longevity in the game.”
The ECB released a statement on the subject which read: “As employees of the ECB, England women’s centrally contracted players are supported by the full terms of maternity conditions, as per any other female non-playing ECB employee.
“They are not required to declare if they are pregnant before they sign their contract.”
