General election: Labour pledge ‘radical protections’ for working women

Labour has pledged to extend statutory maternity pay and bolster the entitlement to flexible working in a move to provide “radical protections” for women in the workplace.

Bigger firms would be also required to put in place policies to support women going through the menopause.

And a Labour government would create a new workers’ protection agency with powers to fine employers who fail to report or take action to deal with their gender pay gap.

However, the Tories have branded the plans “reckless”, arguing they would cripple businesses and lead to job losses.

Under the Labour plans, statutory maternity pay would be increased from nine months to 12 and there would be a “presumption” in favour of flexible working from the first day of employment.

Tougher rules to combat sexual harassment in the workplace would be also introduced, making employers liable for any harassment experienced by staff by “third parties” such as customers or clients.

Elsewhere on the campaign trail:

• Boris Johnson is promising a new “NHS visa” making it easier for doctors and nurses to work in the UK
• The SNP are launching their election campaign by committing to guard the NHS from post-Brexit trade deals, saying it is “not for sale at any price”
• Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson is in Scotland saying voters who “despair” of Brexit should back her party to stop it

Speaking to Sky News, Labour’s shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti said: “We are looking for the most radical protections for women in the workplace in 50 years.

“For example, we have had equal pay law in this country for that period of time but we don’t have anything like equal pay.”

She added: “At the moment you have the right to request that you are able to have flexible hours but it’s just right to request and it’s too easily batted off.

“We are going to replace the simple right to request with a presumption that – unless the employer can explain why it wouldn’t work – they should grant it.”

But hitting out at the plans, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “A vote for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour is a vote to put businesses and jobs at risk.

“Their reckless plans would cripple businesses across the country – leaving hardworking people to pay the price.”

Meanwhile, both the main parties continue to be dogged by candidates being forced to step down over previous controversial comments.

The Labour hopeful for Clacton-on-Sea, Gideon Bull, has pulled out of the race as he denied calling a Jewish councillor a “Shylock” in a council meeting.

Scottish Labour candidate Kate Ramsden, who was standing in the Gordon constituency, has also stepped down after a controversial blog emerged in which she likened Israel to an “abused child” who then goes on to commit abuse.

Former BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Nick Conrad quit as Tory candidate for Broadland after a storm of protest over remarks he made in 2014 during a discussion about a high-profile rape case, saying women should “keep your knickers on”.

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(c) Sky News 2019: General election: Labour pledge ‘radical protections’ for working women