Illustration photo©DR
In principle, pregnant women benefit from a special status intended to protect their health and that of the child they are carrying. This amounts to saying that it is strictly forbidden to force a woman not to work simply because she is pregnant. Today, there are pregnant women for whom the doors to employment are closed despite their qualifications. We met one of them, Sandrine*, who was denied a job because of 7 months of pregnancy.
At 28 years old, Sandrine* is a young married woman and mother of a 2-year-old child. She has held a degree from one of Burundi's universities since 2014 in the health field, yet has never had a job. Not even one! Impossible! "Back when I was still a young girl, I was a real fighter. I traveled here and there for conferences, meetings of associations or international organizations". But shortly after, the situation began to change, no more opportunities." Sandrine would experience a prolonged period of unemployment. "To tell the truth, I did not know where to turn. Every application submission was called into question. Tired, I decided to calm myself." she recounts.
After the rain comes fair weather
In early 2019, a job opening came my way, consistent with my qualifications. My field of expertise: health! I submitted my application on time. And when it came time to contact the selected candidates, I was among the five. And it turned out that I was the only woman. We were called for an interview. When my turn came, the project manager looked me up and down, he started and said to me: "Madam, you are pregnant, do you think you will be able to work?" Surprised, I answered him with full confidence: "Sir, it has been exactly 5 years since I finished my studies but I have not yet found work. This is an opportunity I have just received, I am ready to do this work. Do not worry, I will not be absent much", and to insist: "I only want to work. I have already spoken with my husband, he agrees"! The man bewildered, he told me to go home and that he would contact me.
The day everything changed
The five of us had a WhatsApp group to facilitate communication among us, the 5 selected. During the following week, I see the others writing in the group saying they had been called to start work. But not me!" I panicked a bit, questions formed in my head. The next day my husband received a phone call from the head of this project to inform him in clear and concise terms: "I am sorry to tell you that your wife has been disqualified because she is pregnant. We saw that she would not be capable of performing this work". Disappointed, she decided to remain serene. Currently, the 4 others are already working. But she is not! Because of her pregnancy!
Fleurette HABONIMANA
