Very good to see @steve_mccabe MP raise the issue of #COVID19 guidance to employers of pregnant women with @DWP ministers @mimsdavies & @willquince in this morning's @CommonsWorkPen evidence session >

https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/86ed5d4f-9daf-40b0-9b97-384ddc6cc897

(See 11:12:00 to 11:14:29) #CJRS #HR #ukemplaw

At his televised Downing Street press conference on 16 March, the Prime Minister (& Chief Medical Officer) advised that pregnant women are "vulnerable" & should effectively self-isolate for 12 wks, starting that weekend. 1/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

It is deeply unfortunate, to say the least, that this very public advice was not followed through with clear guidance to employers on their legal obligations to pregnant employees under existing health & safety law. 2/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

Since 16 March, our advice lines have been swamped by calls from extremely distressed pregnant women whose employers are insisting that they continue to work in public facing roles, especially if less than 28 wks pregnant. 3/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

Many of these women have been (wrongly) told by their employer that, if they feel unsafe to attend work, they must go on sick pay, or use paid holiday, or take *unpaid* leave. 4/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

This not only leaves women with a substantial reduction in income *now*, but can also leave them ineligible for Statutory Maternity Pay later on, which in turn can lead to reduced access to #UniversalCredit. 5/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

Furthermore, while the #CJRS explicitly covers “employees that need to look after children”, there is no mention of pregnant employees in the CJRS Guidance or Treasury Direction to HMRC. 6/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

This is enabling employers to refuse to furlough pregnant employees who feel unsafe at work on the spurious ground that ‘the #CJRS is only for businesses like pubs and restaurants that have had to close *completely* under lockdown’. 7/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms

It is now imperative that ministers deliver clear advice to employers that, if a pregnant employee cannot work at home, she should be suspended on full pay (as required by health & safety law) or furloughed under the #CJRS 8/n

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

Since 16 March, we & others have repeatedly written to ministers inc @theresecoffey to press them to urgently deliver such advice, to no avail. Here is our recent joint letter to the acting PM >

https://maternityaction.org.uk/2020/04/our-letter-to-dominic-raab-mp-on-the-health-safety-of-pregnant-employees-and-financial-support-for-working-parents/

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe 9/n

And this is our formal legal Advice from @MichaelFordQC @OldSqChambers & @k21fem @matrixchambers on #SSP, furlough pay under the #CJRS, & pregnant employees 10/n

https://maternityaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ford-Monaghan-Advice-on-SSP-CJRS-21-04-20.pdf

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe

So we were very pleased to hear @mimsdavies say to @steve_mccabe & @CommonsWorkPen today that "this is an area that we need to have some more clarity on and remind employees about their rights". 11/n

@willquince @stephenctimms

We would be v happy to work w @DWP & @beisgovuk officials to help ministers deliver clear & specific #COVID19 advice to employers & employees. This is now extremely urgent. 12/12

@mimsdavies @willquince @stephenctimms @steve_mccabe @CommonsWorkPen @carolinenokes @Commonswomequ