Commenting on today’s (Friday) report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which shows that one in nine (54,000) new mothers lose their job every year as a result of their pregnancy, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“This shocking report shows that many employers are in denial about the scale of pregnancy discrimination in their workplaces.

“Becoming pregnant should be one of the happiest times in a woman’s life, not a period of anxiety and stress.

“These findings must not be swept under the carpet. The current culture of bullying, harassment and ill-treatment that many female workers experience must be consigned to the past.

“Today’s report should also act as a wake-up call to ministers. If they want more employers to comply with the law they shouldn’t be charging women up to £1,200 to pursue a pregnancy discrimination claim.”