The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is to investigate the extent of workplace pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the UK, as it maintains that current information is outdated.
The EHRC will look at employer practices towards pregnant employees as well as hearing experiences from those affected by prejudicial treatment to better understand its causes and effects.
The project is to be carried out because, apart from anecdotal evidence, the EHRC does not have any data more recent than 2005 on the issue, and has said it is very concerning that in 2013 a number of women are still being disadvantaged in the workplace just because they are pregnant. If they found this to be the case, it would be unlawful discrimination and needs to be tackled.
The ECHR will look at existing research, gather new evidence and carry out analysis to establish the extent of the problem and advise on how best it can to be addressed.
The project has received government funding and Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, said that it is unacceptable that women suffer from discrimination when they become pregnant and yet many are saying that they are treated unfairly at work because of it.
Campaigners, who say that discrimination has been on the rise during the economic downturn, as businesses have struggled to cope with a difficult financial climate, have welcomed the investigation.
Rosalind Bragg, director of charity Maternity Action, said that it is important that the Government does not weaken the law on pregnancy discrimination but instead focuses on employer compliance.
She added that the principles of non-discrimination were established decades ago and should be accepted as an essential part of the business environment but unfair and unlawful treatment of new mothers is widespread and action is urgently needed.
According to Ms Bragg, pregnancy discrimination imposes major costs on new families at a time when they are least able to handle additional financial stress.