Ministers must act on select committee proposals to improve women's career prospects, says TUC

date: 20 June 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on the report on women in the workplace published today (Thursday) by the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'This report makes a number of welcome proposals to improve workplace equality and boost women's career and pay prospects.

'Unfortunately it also shows that many of the government's policies are actually hindering progress towards achieving these goals.

'The TUC shares the committee's concerns about pregnancy discrimination at work. Ministers need to take this issue seriously too.

'If the government is serious about its stated aim of improving workplace equality it can start by investing more in careers advice, tackle pay inequalities in apprenticeships and strengthen the right to request flexible working so that it is available from someone's first day at work.

'This would help show that flexible working is not a business burden, but a way to recruit from the widest pool of talent and help staff get on in their careers.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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