You're pregnant? You're fired

A MILLION women face being sacked from their jobs, demoted or bullied in the next five years for having a baby, a new report warned today.

Research for the Equal Opportunities Commission also revealed that seven out of 10 pregnant women who are treated unfairly 'suffer in silence'.

Women sacked for being pregnant lose £12m in maternity pay every year - but replacing them costs employers £126m. The EOC said employers and women workers were united in an 'unprecedented desire' to tackle the problem.

Pregnant women should be given a written statement of their rights on their first antenatal visit and a copy should be handed to their employer.

For their part, women should clearly indicate when they plan to return to work. Jenny Watson, acting chairwoman of the EOC, said the report was 'shocking'.

But Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson said it 'shows the vast majority of employers see the need for the fair, effective legal protection that already exists'. He added: 'Those few who treat pregnant women unfairly are breaking the law and damaging their businesses.'