Workplace Discrimination Pregnant Women and New Mothers 2020-11-25 (2)
2020-11-25
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
One in four women experienced discrimination during pregnancy or maternity leave due to the pandemic. Germany offers stronger protections against such discrimination.
In Germany, women who are pregnant or on maternity leave cannot be made redundant, to avoid any hidden discrimination. With one in four women who are pregnant during the pandemic experiencing discrimination here at home, is it not time for the UK to look carefully at adopting a similar approach to that taken in Germany?
I thank my right hon. Friend for pushing her private Member's Bill and for her concern in this area. I was pleased to meet her. Germany has a far more prescriptive labour market. We support the intention behind her Bill but, having undertaken a full consultation in 2019, we have decided on a different approach, working with the grain of our current regime and extending the existing protection afforded to a new mother on maternity leave into pregnancy and for a six-month return to work period. We will introduce these changes as soon as parliamentary time allows.
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Assessment & feedback
Adopting Germany's approach specifically
Working With The Grain Of Our Current Regime
Response accuracy