Comment: Mothers' rights

Ms Brewer says the extension of maternity rights is discouraging employers from offering them jobs or promotion: from the end of this Parliament, women will be entitled to a year's paid leave when they have a baby. She also says plans to give parents the right to request flexible working could further damage women's employment position.

The advent of statutory maternity leave and pay were important steps forward for women. This Government has progressively extended the universal 14-week entitlement established in 1994, and many will welcome the legal right to spend longer with their babies before returning to work. There is still far too much discrimination against women, particularly those of child-bearing age, as recent cases in the City and elsewhere have underlined. But as Ms Brewer makes clear, a balance has to be struck. Especially since April 2007, when the right to statutory maternity pay increased from six to nine months, employers have increasingly found longer maternity leave a problem. Covering for those on leave can be especially difficult for small businesses.

It would be counter-productive if increased employment rights for parents costwomen job opportunities and reinforced traditional work patterns in which they stayed at home. Ministers should reconsider their rolling programme of changes to work rights, and reach a compromise with employers.