Woman wins landmark pregnancy discrimination case in Australia, awarded over $200,000

Tatiana Duarte has won a significant legal victory against her employer, the Consulate of the United Arab Emirates in Melbourne, securing over $200,000 in damages for pregnancy discrimination. Duarte, who worked as a waiter and cleaner, experienced a hostile work environment where she was denied unpaid parental leave and flexible work arrangements. The lack of support extended to her needing to pump breast milk, forcing her to find a storage room and transport her milk home in a suitcase with ice.

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My colleagues found me a storage room. I didn't even have a table or a seat to breastfeed or anywhere to store my milk. I had to buy a suitcase with ice just to keep it cold so it wouldn't do any damage to my baby.

Duarte described the experience as leaving her feeling "frustrated, sad and disappointed," questioning her rights in Australia. Her case, while successful, is highlighted as rare due to the high costs, complexity, and time involved in such legal actions. Victoria Legal Aid supported Duarte's case as she could not afford a lawyer.

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Australia is supposed to be a country where you're meant to have rights. I didn't expect this to happen.

Despite pregnancy discrimination being illegal for over 30 years in Australia, research indicates it remains widespread. Dominique Allen, an anti-discrimination law researcher at Monash University, stated that court cases represent only the "tip of the iceberg." A survey by the University of South Australia found that over 91% of women experienced discrimination upon returning to work, and 89% faced it while pregnant. These issues affect women regardless of their employment sector, seniority, or employment status.

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There are a few cases heard by courts, but we know that that is just the tip of the iceberg.