Employment law

Self-employed left in the cold by new workplace protections for parents

New proposals to protect pregnant women and new parents from unfairly losing their jobs have overlooked self-employed workers, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The government has today launched a new consultation on plans to extend the legal protections against redundancy for pregnant women and new mothers so that it continues for six months after they return to work.

The proposals were put forward alongside new research published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) that found one in nine women said they had been fired or made redundant when they returned to work after having a child, or were treated so badly they felt forced out of their job.

BEIS research revealed that as many as 54, 000 women lose their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity every year.

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Announcing the consultation, prime minister Theresa May said it was unacceptable? that many new parents encounter difficulties when returning to work.

today’s proposals are set to provide greater protection for new parents in the workplace, and put their minds at ease at this important time, she added.

New parents shouldn’t face discrimination when they go back to work

That’s why we’ve launched a new consultation looking at boosting legal protections for new parents.

Find out more https://t.co/LxmQiA3b9S #IndustrialStrategy @KellyTolhurst pic.twitter.com/vJrAqJdO0w

? Dept for BEIS (@beisgovuk) January 24, 2019

Left out in the cold

However, small business groups have claimed sole traders and the self-employed remained at a disadvantage when having children.

once again the self-employed have been overlooked by this government, said FSB chairman Mike Cherry.

While Cherry broadly welcomed the government’s attempts to bring more rights to parents, he said the efforts must include meaningful support for the self-employed.

‘sole traders who take the step into parenthood continue to be left out in the cold, he added.