Women dismissed by their employers because they are pregnant comprise the largest number of complaints received by the Human Rights Commission.

Last year, eight of 11 unfair dismissal complaints were validated by the Commission and agreements reached with employers.

In one instance an employer was prosecuted. In another, a board of inquiry was appointed to investigate the situation.

But Amnesty International spokeswoman Mrs. Clare Hatcher claims Bermudian women are still vulnerable to sexual discrimination, unfair dismissal and unequal pay.

The Human Rights Act protecting women from discrimination was not specific enough, she said. It was up to women to lodge complaints with the Commission individually. Instead, Government needed to create more specific guidelines for employers and employees on what constitutes discrimination.

Furthermore, she said, Bermuda does not come under the umbrella of a United Nations convention on the elimination of discrimination against women which has been ratified by the United Kingdom but which does not extend to Bermuda.

The convention includes 30 articles outlining specific measures by which governments ensure the fair and equal treatment of women, including equal pay for equal work, adequate health care, the right to education, elimination of sexual stereotypes and the prohibition of dismissal for pregnancy.

Clauses on equal pay for equal work and paid maternity leave were also omitted from an international covenant ratified by the United Kingdom in 1976 and extended to Bermuda, on economic, social and cultural rights.

"By not ratifying these conventions and these articles, women in Bermuda are left in a vulnerable position concerning their livelihood, their freedom from sexual discrimination and their safety,'' Mrs. Hatcher said as spokeswoman for Amnesty International.

"Government may already be protecting some of the rights, but it is important to have enforcible standards. They need to be more specific. At the moment there is nothing specific in relation to equal pay.'' She also chided Government for not sending a Government delegate to the UN conference in Beijing.

"By not sending an official delegation prepared with a well-researched policy paper to the UN conference, the voices of women living in Bermuda will not be heard.

"The World Conference on Women offers an opportunity for governments to work together to protect and promote all the human rights of women.'' Minister of Women's Affairs the Hon. Lynda Milligan-Whyte said she would wait for delegates to the United Nations Fourth Conference on Women in Beijing to return before considering adopting the UN convention.

"I cannot just arbitrarily bind the Government to something,'' she said.

"Government has to study these reservations. But as soon as the delegates get back we will discuss it in Cabinet and decide what course to take.'' In addition, Sen. Milligan-Whyte said she would be meeting with other women's groups and associations to discuss their concerns and decide what had to be done.

Sen. Yvette Swan is one of a group of Bermudians in Beijing attending the Non-Governmental Conference and who will be reporting back to Government.