Labour Research (March 2005)

Equality news

Pregnancy discrimination is rife

Around 30,000 women are sacked, made redundant or leave their jobs because of pregnancy discrimination every year, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has revealed.

And 45% of pregnant workers experience some form of discrimination while pregnant, on maternity leave or returning to work.

The EOC is calling on the government to provide a statement of maternity rights and employer responsibilities to every pregnant woman, with a copy for their employer.

GMB deputy general secretary Debbie Coulter said the figures were only a "fraction of the story", and called for more to be done "to change employers' and colleagues' attitudes to pregnancy in the workplace".


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