Pregnant workers get new rights

Last month marked a significant step forward for pregnant workers and new parents, as the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill passed its third reading.

The Private Members’ Bill, put forward by Labour MP Dan Jarvis, will prevent employers from laying off expectant mothers and new parents by extending redundancy protection to six months. It will protect women from redundancy during and after pregnancy and amend existing regulations to protect parents from redundancy on return to work from maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.

The UNISON public services union says maternity discrimination cases form a disproportionately large percentage of its legal caseload and described the Bill as a significant win. The Usdaw retail union welcomed the Bill as a step closer to stronger redundancy protections.

Usdaw also welcomed MPs passing the Carers Leave Bill as a step in the right direction. Under the Bill, unpaid working carers will be able to take up to one week’s unpaid leave per year flexibly in small amounts.

The entitlement applies to all employees regardless of length of service and starts from day one of employment. However, Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said that “any right to leave is really only accessible for low-paid workers if it is paid leave at their average income”.