Nicole Kidman has been slammed by a union representing 25,000 American flight attendants for her new ad campaign with Etihad Airways.
Association of Professional Flight Attendants national president Laura Glading, in an open letter to Kidman, wrote the sponsorship deal is at odds with the Australian Oscar winner's role as a United Nations Women's Goodwill Ambassador.
Etihad rejects this, arguing its commitment to its employees is one of the airline's top priorities.
The union has waged a public campaign against Etihad and other United Arab Emirates airlines claiming they "are well-known in our industry for their discriminatory labour practices and deplorable treatment of female employees".
"Last month, on March 8, International Women's Day, you said, 'I envisage a world where all women and girls have equal opportunities and rights ... Now is the time to step it up'," Glading wrote in the letter to Kidman.
"Later that very same week, we saw that you had begun appearing in a new campaign for Etihad, a company that the Wall Street Journal has publicly reported 'may fire women if they become pregnant' and forces flight attendants to live in 'confinement' in secure compounds'."
"These are the types of conditions that APFA fought to eradicate decades ago in the United States."
Kidman stars in Etihad's new "Hollywood Glamour" global brand campaign.
Last month Etihad premiered a new TV commercial starring and narrated by Kidman shot onboard Etihad's new flagship A380 plane.
"At Etihad Airways, we have become a global, award-winning employer because we value our employees and we treat them with dignity and respect," an Etihad spokesperson told AAP.
Etihad says it fully supports its cabin crew during and after pregnancies.
When a cabin crew member informs Etihad of a pregnancy she is provided with appropriate ground duties for the duration of the pregnancy, remains fully compensated and engaged on the ground and is entitled to paid maternity leave if more than one year's service is completed, according to the airline.
"Our cabin crew are then able to return to their flying role at the end of their maternity leave period," the Etihad spokesperson said.
"The health and safety of our cabin crew remains paramount. Therefore, we follow the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority) requirement that crew do not continue to fly while pregnant."
Comment was being sought from Kidman.
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