Pregnancy discrimination is happening on an “industrial scale”, warns TUC

date: Tuesday 30 August 2016

embargo: 00.01hrs Wednesday 31 August 2016

Commenting on today’s (Wednesday) report by the Women and Equalities Select Committee, which warns of a “shocking” rise in the number of women experiencing pregnancy discrimination at work, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Pregnancy discrimination forces tens of thousands of women out of their jobs every year. It is not just confined to a few workplaces, it is happening on an industrial scale.

“Today’s report must lead to action. As well as extending protection for pregnant women and new mums, the government must stop charging women up to £1,200 to take a pregnancy discrimination claim. The introduction of tribunal fees has been a gift for Britain’s worst bosses and allowed them to get away with mistreating pregnant women and working mums.

“My advice to women is to join a union. As the Equality and Human Rights Commission highlighted recently, pregnant women and new mums are treated better in workplaces that recognise trade unions.”

The TUC says that just 1% of women who are discriminated against in pregnancy take a claim against their employer to tribunal.

The TUC wants the government to:

• Publish its long-awaited review into the impact of tribunal fees.
• Extend the time limit, which currently stands at just three months, for new mums to bring a pregnancy discrimination claim.
• Give a cast-iron guarantee that Brexit will not result in weaker protections for women at work.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The Equality and Human Rights Commission report can be found at: www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/pregnancy-and-maternity-discrimination-research-0

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1388  M: 07808 761844  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Thurs)  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk