Call for clarity on pregnant workers

UNISON has joined with unions the NEU, UNU and other organisations including Maternity Action and the Fawcett Society in alerting first secretary of state Dominic Raab to the way some pregnant women were wrongly sent home and put on sick leave when they could have been furloughed or given special leave.

A joint statement explained: “The prime minister’s announcement on 16 March that pregnant women are classed as vulnerable led directly to many being sent home on sick leave, in breach of existing health and safety law. Since the chancellor's subsequent announcement of the coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS), many of these pregnant women have been kept on Statutory Sick Pay (just £95.85 per week), while fellow employees have been placed on furlough, on 80% of their normal pay. This looks to us to be unlawful discrimination … despite very welcome changes to the schemes on the eve of the Easter weekend, further revisions are needed”.

Meanwhile, as hospitals report the public staying away in case they catch coronavirus the Royal College of Midwives has reminded pregnant women that the NHS is open and that they should call 111 or their maternity team if:

• they have a headache that won’t go away;

• they notice any bleeding; or

• if they are worried that their baby is moving less or differently.

https://maternityaction.org.uk/2020/04/our-letter-to-dominic-raab-mp-on-the-health-safety-of-pregnant-employees-and-financial-support-for-working-parents