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| Stronger rights considered for new and expectant mothers | Stronger rights considered for new and expectant mothers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Extra legal protection for new and expectant mothers who feel they are being forced out of their jobs is being considered by the government. | |
| A consultation will be launched "in due course" on strengthening the existing law against such discrimination. | A consultation will be launched "in due course" on strengthening the existing law against such discrimination. |
| The move is in response to last August's recommendations from MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee. | The move is in response to last August's recommendations from MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee. |
| However, the government will not give such women extra time to take their cases to an employment tribunal. | However, the government will not give such women extra time to take their cases to an employment tribunal. |
| Business Minister Margot James said: "There should be zero tolerance of discrimination against pregnant women, or women who have just given birth. | |
| "That's why today we are committing to making sure new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy." | "That's why today we are committing to making sure new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy." |
| 'Clearly unacceptable' | 'Clearly unacceptable' |
| It is against the law to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant or has recently given birth. | It is against the law to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant or has recently given birth. |
| This legal protection should last from when a woman becomes pregnant until the end of her maternity leave. | This legal protection should last from when a woman becomes pregnant until the end of her maternity leave. |
| But last year, the parliamentary committee heard evidence, which they described as "shocking", that discrimination was in fact common. | But last year, the parliamentary committee heard evidence, which they described as "shocking", that discrimination was in fact common. |
| The number of expectant and new mothers forced to leave their jobs had almost doubled to 54,000 since 2005, they heard. | The number of expectant and new mothers forced to leave their jobs had almost doubled to 54,000 since 2005, they heard. |
| Research considered by the MPs also showed that 11% of mothers felt they had been forced out of their jobs, mostly by bad treatment by their employers rather than through direct dismissal or redundancy. | Research considered by the MPs also showed that 11% of mothers felt they had been forced out of their jobs, mostly by bad treatment by their employers rather than through direct dismissal or redundancy. |
| "This is clearly unacceptable," said the government. | "This is clearly unacceptable," said the government. |
| No dilution | No dilution |
| The committee of MPs made 18 recommendations to stop unfair treatment by employers, with the key change of giving women greater legal protection now gaining government support. | The committee of MPs made 18 recommendations to stop unfair treatment by employers, with the key change of giving women greater legal protection now gaining government support. |
| Backing has also been given to the idea that employers should be required to carry out individual health assessments on expectant or new mothers. | Backing has also been given to the idea that employers should be required to carry out individual health assessments on expectant or new mothers. |
| Extending the rights of permanent employees to temporary, agency or zero-hours staff will be considered by a separate review of employment practices led by Matthew Taylor, of the Royal Society of Arts. | Extending the rights of permanent employees to temporary, agency or zero-hours staff will be considered by a separate review of employment practices led by Matthew Taylor, of the Royal Society of Arts. |
| And the government has re-stated its commitment that leaving the European Union will not lead to a dilution of workers' rights in the UK. | And the government has re-stated its commitment that leaving the European Union will not lead to a dilution of workers' rights in the UK. |
| But a call by the MPs, to extend from three months to six the time limit for discrimination cases to be taken to employment tribunals, has been turned down. | But a call by the MPs, to extend from three months to six the time limit for discrimination cases to be taken to employment tribunals, has been turned down. |
| The government said there was no strong evidence that the current limit was a deterrent to making a claim on maternity or pregnancy grounds. | The government said there was no strong evidence that the current limit was a deterrent to making a claim on maternity or pregnancy grounds. |
| However, the government said it would consider reminding tribunals that they already have the power to be flexible and to extend the time limits, case by case, if they see fit. | However, the government said it would consider reminding tribunals that they already have the power to be flexible and to extend the time limits, case by case, if they see fit. |
| What are your rights? | What are your rights? |
| If you think you are being badly treated: | If you think you are being badly treated: |