The survey of 19,950 mothers and pregnant women by campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed found that 15 per cent of mothers either have been made redundant or expect to be made redundant in the next six months.
It also revealed that 72 per cent of mothers have been forced to work less hours because of childcare issues and 65 per cent of mothers who have been furloughed say that a lack of childcare was the reason.
Of the employed mothers surveyed, 81 per cent said they need childcare to be able to work but more than half (51 per cent) do not have the necessary childcare in place to enable them to do their job.
Other findings include:
- 33 per cent have been forced to give up a childcare place due to Covid-19
- 74 per cent of self-employed mothers felt lack of access to childcare, because of school and childcare facilities closing, reduced their earning potential
- 44 per cent of self-employed mothers have had to give up their childcare place during the pandemic.
The research comes as the Labour Party calls for targeted support for the struggling childcare sector with thousands of childcare providers closing in the last five years and thousands more fearing they will not be operating by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement of the reopening of workplaces coincided with schools finishing for the summer holidays, which drew criticism from across the political spectrum. There has been no additional funding for summer programmes since the start of the pandemic.
Pregnant Then Screwed founder and chief executive Joeli Brearley believes that many working mothers are being ignored by the Government and that a lack of childcare is destroying women’s careers.
‘That 15 per cent of employed mothers have been made redundant or think they will be in the next six months, is huge and it’s terrifying. To add insult to injury though almost half of these attribute a lack of childcare to the decision. This is discrimination in its most purest sense. To make someone redundant not because of their ability but because they are a mother is outrageous, and it needs to stop,’ she said.
‘While this data is shocking, it should also serve as a warning to employers. An organisation that lets caring responsibilities colour their judgement during redundancy consultations or selections could be leaving themselves open to claims of sex discrimination. We need to see provisions in place to support mothers who are struggling with childcare through no fault of their own. We need the Government to open its eyes to the gender imbalance that Covid-19 is exacerbating and we need to help pregnant women and mums to be treated on merit, not on how many kids they have. The time to change this is now.’
The survey findings also highlight inequality for women who are pregnant. It found that 46 per cent of pregnant women who have been suspended from work because of their pregnancy have been suspended on incorrect terms. This includes 33 per cent on furlough and another 13 per cent on sick pay or told to take holiday or to start maternity pay.
Ms Brearley adds that those pregnant women who are returning to the workplace are vulnerable and at risk of infection and do not feel safe. She believes pregnant women are being treated as ‘collateral damage’ during the pandemic, with at least five pregnant women having already died from the virus.
The survey found that 45 per cent of pregnant workers that are working outside of home have currently not had an individual risk assessment conducted. This increases to 52 per cent of those pregnant women who are Black, Asian and Ehnically Diverse, despite being classes as ‘clinically vulnerable’.
