Women losing jobs twice as fast as men as discrimination rises – top legal comment offered

The Government is becoming increasingly alarmed that many more women are losing their jobs than men, as the recession fuels a rise in discrimination. Ministers fear that bosses are making women redundant in an attempt to avoid costs associated with the introduction of longer maternity leave and flexible working rights, while a group of senior women ministers have warned Gordon Brown that the recession may tarnish Labourís record on equal rights.

The latest official employment statistics show that the number of women in full time work fell by 53,000 in the last quarter, compared with a fall of 36,000 for men. The Prime Minister is said to be taking the problem so seriously that he has agreed to dedicate a session of the G20 meeting in London in April to the impact of the recession for women.