Pregnant women will get more protection against being made redundant under new rules set to become law later this year.
Currently, workers cannot be dismissed when they are on maternity leave.
Under the new law, this protection will begin from the moment a woman tells her boss she is pregnant until the child is 18 months old.
The Pregnant Then Screwed charity said Labour MP Dan Jarvis’s bill was a “step in the right direction” but needs more legal backbone.
Mr Jarvis’s bill, was approved by MPs on Friday and will now be debated in the House of Lords.
However, as it has government support it is likely to become law and will apply to England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland where employment law is devolved.
Watch this space!