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| US companies break long silence on abortion rights |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] NEW YORK: After carefully avoiding the taboo topic for decades, more and more US companies are taking a stand on the right to abortion, a sign of a new generation with growing influence and very different expectations than their predecessors. Mere hours after the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion indicating the national right to abortion would be overturned, a variety of American businesses began to react publicly, AFP reported.
"Given what is at stake, business leaders need to make their voices heard and act to protect the health and well-being of our employees," Levi Strauss said in a statement. "That means protecting reproductive rights." Like the iconic denim brand, Apple has also pledged to cover costs for employees who have to travel to another state to get an abortion. Revoking the nationwide right to abortion "will jeopardise the human rights of millions of women," the review platform Yelp told AFP, saying it would have "a seismic impact on our society and economy" and urging other companies to "step up to safeguard their employees".
Since Texas in September implemented a law banning abortion after six weeks - before many women even know they are pregnant, and with no exceptions for rape or incest - the stigma on speaking out has started to break.
