Thousands of new mothers are losing their jobs as the cost of living becomes tougher.
Pregnant Then Screwed says the new mother is the “canary in the mine” as the country’s economy begins to plummet.
Redundancy has hit many as companies withdraw flexible work arrangements introduced during the pandemic.
Pregnant Then Screwed is responding to a surge in phone calls as more and more struggling parents seek help during the cost of living crisis.
Founded by Joeli Brealy, the organization fought to “stop women dying” during the pandemic by calling for pregnant women to be better protected from the virus.
Now their jobs are shifting again.
Campaigners are now calling on the government to reform the country’s “broken” childcare system and improve parental leave terms and flexible work options.
Joeli told Metro.co.uk: For example, phone lines have seen tremendous progress in the last month alone.
Phone calls are up 56% and many are concerned. For example, we have received calls for advice on benefits.
“There was also a lot of concern about the sheer number of layoffs that were happening, which is alarming.
“These calls came early in the cost of living crisis.
“As soon as the situation gets worse, mothers are the first to be kicked out of work. They have been the first to go and warn us that it is.
“Companies are panicking and starting to go back to very traditional ways of working. Could have been more open to going out the window.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UK maternity benefits are the third worst in Europe and paternity benefits are the worst.
The country also has the second most expensive childcare system on the continent.
Governments are being urged to look to countries such as Germany and Denmark, which have very different attitudes towards maternity leave, childcare costs and parental leave.
Gioeli is calling for more mothers to stand up for their rights, as she did at the “Mummy March” protest earlier this year.
Thousands of people took to the streets across the country to demand “urgent” change.
Joeli adds:
“So, in recent times, we have returned to looking at the core issues: we see a serious deterioration in terms of gender equality and child poverty.
“And after Covid, and now with the cost of living crisis, people are feeling more helpless now. Indifferent.
“At this year’s Mummy’s March, 67% of people had never protested before, but the day felt powerful.
“Sometimes we sit at home and feel depressed about our inability to change things. I feel like
“I am happy to know that we are now the voice of working mothers. You can feel it.
“We have over 170 volunteers, the majority of whom are women who have had their own silly experiences.
“Our top priority is to join the manifesto of all political parties to bring about fundamental changes in parenting, flexible working and parental leave.”
Click here to join Pregnant Then Screwed
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