Sia Girls May Be Allowed to Return to Work After Pregnancy.

SINGAPORE Airlines' leading stewardesses can soon expect to be allowed to return to work after they become mothers.

Those who have worked for five years or more with the airline will no longer have to quit or be grounded after childbirth, which is the present rule.

Under a proposed agreement expected to be signed between the SIA management and SIA Staff Union (Siasu) before the end of this year, the women will have two years from the date they leave to return to work.

For a start, the Singapore Girls who quit even up to four years ago, may be able to return, sources revealed. But they will have to decide within a certain period of time. This has yet to be specified.

It is understood that those who return will not lose out in position or seniority.

But they will have to look presentable and not be overweight. They must also have had a good record, and have achieved at least a 70-per-cent rating in performance appraisals.

At present, SIA stewardesses who become pregnant have to leave their jobs.

Some are offered ground jobs if any are available, but it is believed most choose to leave anyway.

A union official said that an agreement with the management to allow certain stewardesses to return to work after childbirth was close to being reached.

But the official declined to elaborate as the package was not tied up fully yet.

Said a married SIA stewardess: "We can return? That is wonderful news. I love my job and have been very sad at the prospect of having to leave if I start a family. Several colleagues who left when they were pregnant told me that they wished they could fly again."

Sources said that the management and union decided to allow ex-stewardesses to return partly because of the tight labour market