Consultation: enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers
As part of the Make Work Pay Plan, the government has launched a series of public consultations on key measures in the Employment Rights Bill. The Department for Business and Trade has published a series of factsheets sharing further details on the measures included in the Employment Rights Bill.
This consultation looks at measures that will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for at least a 6-month period after they return – except in specific circumstances. The consultation covers:
- the specific circumstances in which the dismissal of pregnant women and new mothers should still be allowed
- when the protections should start and end
- whether other new parents should be covered by the protections
- making sure pregnant women and new mothers are aware of the policy
- how to best support businesses through the change
- how to mitigate against any unintended consequences
- other changes that could be made to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination
The consultation closes at 11:59pm on Thursday, 15 January 2026. Click here to submit a response.
