BARNSLEY Central MP Dan Jarvis said he was ‘delighted’ to see his Private Members’ Bill – which will strengthen employment rights for new mums – passed last week.

His Protection from Redundancy (pregnancy and family leave) Bill will extend current protections on redundancy to help safeguard pregnant and workers returning from maternity leave.

Its measures will also extend to workers on adoption and shared parental leave.

Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that 54,000 women a year lose their job for getting pregnant.

Whilst three in four working mums say they experienced some kind of pregnancy and maternity discrimination.

The bill had its second reading in the House of Commons last Friday, which secured backing from the government.

Dan said: “I am delighted that my Private Members’ Bill passed its second reading in Parliament and is now a step closer to becoming law.

“At the heart of it are tens of thousands of women pushed out of the workforce each year simply for being pregnant.

“I’m proud this new legislation will go some way to providing pregnant women and new mums greater protections in the workplace.

“I want to thank all those who’ve supported the Bill including Unison, the TUC, Fawcett Society, the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the EHRC and I look forward to continuing to work with them, to get this over the line.”

Dean Russell, minister for enterprise and markets, added: “Being an expectant or new parent is already a hugely exciting yet anxious time without the added pressure of worrying whether your job is on the line.

“By extending the UK’s world class workplace protections, today’s reforms will help to remove workplace discrimination and provide improved job security for employees at such an important and precious time in their lives.”