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Labour commits to stronger laws to protect new mothers from redundancy discrimination

LABOUR has pledged to introduce stronger laws to protect new mothers from redundancy discrimination. 

On Saturday’s 51st anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, the party said it would outlaw making women redundant during pregnancy and for six months after their return to work.

As part of a package of proposals to address gender inequality and Britain’s “failing” shared parental leave policy, Labour also made a commitment to modernise equal pay laws, giving women the right to know what their male colleagues earn, and to introduce longer paid paternity leave. 

The moves will put pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to do more to boost equality and protect pregnant workers when the furlough scheme ends in September. 

The TUC warns that women are at particular risk when Covid-19 job support is withdrawn as they are more likely to be in low-paid or precarious work. 

Shadow women and equalities minister Marsha de Cordova said urgent action was needed to prevent a “two-tier recovery” from the pandemic.

“Making it illegal to make a new mother redundant during pregnancy and maternity leave is a simple, robust way to end discrimination,” she stressed. 

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband argued fathers should be offered “use it or lose it” paternity leave lasting at least three months to help challenge entrenched gender roles.

The former Labour leader warned that the existing policy encourages fathers to take only a “brief paternal pit-stop” because they receive two weeks’ paid paternity leave of just £150 a week.

A government spokesperson said: “Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is unlawful, which is why we have already announced plans to extend the redundancy protection period [to six months from the date of a mother’s return to work].”

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