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".