IRVINE’S MP has spoken out to end discrimination against pregnant women and new mothers in the workplace.

Brian Donohoe recently received a copy of a report from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on the subject and has offered his support for ending discrimination.

The report makes five suggestions about changes that would improve the experiences of pregnant women and new mothers: 1.Employment tribunal fees should be abolished so women can afford to take their employers to court if they feel they have been treated unfairly. If employers know they are unlikely to be taken to a tribunal, they are likely to continue with their bad behaviour.

2. Employers should publish return to work rates to show how many new mums go back to their jobs and how many are still in post a year on.

3.The government should introduce better paid leave to allow dads to play a greater role in the care of their children and mothers a greater chance to progress at work.

4.Flexible working must become more widespread, and men should have as much chance to work in this way as women. Flexible working should be promoted at the point of recruitment and it should be easier for parents to challenge an employer who turns down their request to work flexibly.

5. Employers taken to a tribunal over a pregnancy or maternity related complaint should be forced to act to improve their employment practices when they are found to have discriminated against an employee.

Mr Donohoe, the MP for Central Ayrshire, said: “Some people think this kind of thing no longer happens but unfortunately that is far from the truth and some women do indeed still experience discrimination in the work place either during or after pregnancy despite legislation which has strengthened maternity rights over the past 40 years.

“In this day and age and with all political parties speaking of the importance of family, this is something which should be seriously looked at to ensure women are not subjected to this kind of discrimination.”