Government commits to strengthening the position of women in relation to pregnancy, maternity and redundancy
Last summer the House of Commons’ Women and Equalities Committee published a report showing that the number of expectant and new mothers forced to leave their jobs had increased dramatically since 2005. It made over 20 recommendations. The Government has just published its response and it considers that, overall, women’s rights are adequately protected by existing law and so has not adopted the majority of the Committee’s recommendations.
The one area where the government has made a commitment to strengthening the position of women is in relation to pregnancy, maternity and redundancy.
Independent research carried out last year into pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination suggested that nearly 10% of mothers were treated so badly that they felt forced to leave work.
The committee’s recommendation is to implement a system like that used in Germany under which women can be made redundant only in specified circumstances with protection applying throughout pregnancy and maternity leave and for six months afterwards. It is not clear whether the Government will adopt the recommendation as proposed but it has said that it will consider further and bring forward proposals to strengthen the position of women in relation to pregnancy, maternity and redundancy.
The Government’s response coincides with the start of a major review into the UK’s gender discrimination laws amid fears a potential post-Brexit move towards a lower regulation economy could see protections eroded.
