WOMEN workers across Hampshire were today urged to join the fight against pregnancy prejudice.

The call follows new research revealing each year about 30,000 women in Britain are sacked, made redundant or quit their jobs because of pregnancy discrimination.

Now the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is launching a campaign calling for more information and support for pregnant workers and their employers.

Across Hampshire, citizen advice bureaux and lawyers receive many inquiries from women who have experienced discrimination in the workplace while pregnant.

Winn Hatch, deputy manager at Southampton CAB, said: "Pregnancy discrimination is certainly not uncommon.

"As with all employment issues, it is very often companies with just a few employees who are involved, as larger firms tend to have human resources departments. Sometimes employers are genuinely ignorant of the rules."

Gary Edwards, co-ordinator at Southampton Advice and Representation Centre, which provides advice on benefits and employment law, said: "Out of all forms of discrimination, pregnancy discrimination is probably the one we encounter most.

"It is not unknown for a woman on maternity leave to be forgotten about, then find there is no place for her when she is ready to return."

Employment solicitor Dorlee Monschau, of Coffin, Mew and Clover in Southampton, said: "This area of law is not straight forward and some employers feel that the financial costs of compliance is too great.

"The cost of getting it wrong, however, can be expensive for employers, with compensation being unlimited."

The EOC campaign calls on the government to provide a written statement of maternity rights and employer responsibilities to every pregnant woman.

FACTFILE:

ABOUT 441,000 women are pregnant at work each year.

The EOC survey of more than 1,000 women who had recently given birth and worked while pregnant found:

Overall, almost half of women (45 per cent) said they experienced some form of discrimination because of their pregnancy.

A fifth (21 per cent) said they lost out financially due to discrimination.

One in 20 (five per cent) were put under pressure to hand in their notice when they announced their pregnancy.