Discrimination against pregnant women and sexual discrimination continue to top complaints to the Human Rights Commission, Executive Director David Wilson said on the eve of international human rights day today.

He said employers found by the Commission to be breaking the law were paying out large sums in damages.

He said: "We have had payments of $70,000 and $50,000."

And the right to equal pay will be one of the subjects stressed at public and private senior schools throughout the Island by Human Rights Commission workers today to mark international human rights day.

Human Rights Commissioner Ollie McKitterick said: "Everyone has the right to equal pay for equal work."

He said the broader message for children would be to "recognise their neighbour as themselves".

He added: "We are trying to get them to recognise there is a body there to fight for their cases."

Mr. Wilson said: "The statistics show there has been a preponderance of discrimination cases on the grounds of pregnancy. The other is sexual harassment. That too is on the up."

Although he had no current figures the problem topped the list of complaints received by the Human Rights Commission as far back as 1999.

Mr. Wilson denied being frustrated that pregnancy discrimination was still so high.

He said: "People are becoming more sensitised. People are becoming more aware of their rights."

He said pregnant women were being illegally sacked or not taken on because of their condition.

Bermuda Employers Council executive director Andrea Mowbray said: "It's one of those things, like race, it's evolving, it's improving slowly.

"Women are a lot better off than ten to 15 years ago but we are not there yet. It's a man's world.

"Look at the insurance companies, there's no birth control coverage but they cover Viagra."

"To me that's discriminatory. They would rather pay for the birth of an unwanted child than help prevent it.

"If there was a birth control pill for men we would have had coverage 20 years ago."

She said men were more accepting of women in management positions than ten to 15 years ago.

"Men used to be resentful to have a female boss. Now it's not so much of an issue. It's not so much of an issue.

"Hopefully one day we will get there but you can't legislate for people's attitudes.

"It's disappointing it's still a problem. Women have to have kids, men can't. Women work now, economically they have to but it's human nature to procreate."

She said she was aware of discrimination over pay but it was very difficult to prove.

"It's very easy for an employer to say their male employee has been there longer or he does that extra thing."

Former executive officer of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Neville Darrell, who is now an opposition Senator, said women made up 52 percent of Bermuda's workforce but are paid in general about 30 percent less than their male counterparts.

He said women were a dynamic part of the workforce but some employers exaggerated the problems of employing pregnant women.

Sen. Darrell said: "Some go through the entire process with few problems."