Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 50
We echo our recommendation from last year’s report that the Government should legislate as soon...
Recommendation
We echo our recommendation from last year’s report that the Government should legislate as soon as possible to introduce its planned extension of redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers. It must clarify a timeframe for doing this, and, if there is not sufficient parliamentary time to consider a full Employment Bill before the end of the year, the Government should immediately bring forward a short Bill specifically to implement these protections.
Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation to legislate urgently for extended redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers or provide a timeframe. Instead, it stated that the government is considering extending the time limit for bringing Equality Act 2010 cases to employment tribunals.
Paragraph Reference:
50
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave Etc Regulations 1999 (“MAPLE”) provides that before making an employee on maternity leave redundant, employers must offer them a suitable alternative position, where one is available—giving the mother preferential treatment above other employees. The Government remains committed to extending these redundancy protections for new and expectant mothers. Our consultation response set out in more detail the measures we intend to take forward. • We will ensure the redundancy protection period applies from the point the employee informs the employer that she is pregnant. • We will extend the redundancy protection period for six months once a new mother has returned to work. • We will extend redundancy protection into a period of return to work for those taking adoption leave. This will follow the same approach as the extended protection being provided for those returning from maternity leave. Government Response: Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on 7 • We will extend redundancy protection into a period of return to work for those taking shared parental leave. It remains our intention to introduce these measures as soon as Parliamentary time allows.