Female workers who experienced workplace discrimination and bullying when they were pregnant have called on the government to live up to its promise to stamp out what is known in Japanese as matahara, or "maternity harassment."
In a reflection of conservative Japan's staunch "men at work and women at home" corporate mindset, pregnant employees are sometimes fired, demoted or stuck with physically demanding labor despite pleas for a lighter workload, five victims said on Wednesday. They were speaking at a news conference in Tokyo organized by nonprofit group Matahara Net.
A week ago the government said it is considering legal amendments to crack down on workplace discrimination against pregnant women.