The equality watchdog says that women aged under 25 are bearing the brunt of pregnancy and maternity discrimination at work. Women aged under 25 are six times more likely than average women to be dismissed from their jobs after telling employers they are pregnant, new figures show.

Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) showed that 6% in the younger age group reported that they were dismissed after revealing that they were expecting a child compared to 1% among expectant mothers of all ages.  It also found 15% of the younger mothers felt under pressure to hand in their notices on becoming pregnant, compared to 7% on average.

The report said young women had lower awareness of their rights, were typically in less stable jobs and were worried or lacked confidence about talking to their manager about things that were troubling them.

The EHRC is launching a campaign to help young and expectant new mothers know their rights and stand up for them.Caroline Waters, deputy chair of the EHRC, has said : "Young working mothers are feeling the brunt of pregnancy and maternity discrimination with more than any other age group being forced out of their jobs, facing harassment and experiencing issues with their health as a result. Often these women aren't established in their careers, with junior or unstable roles, low paid and reliant on their wage to support themselves and their babies. 

We cannot continue to allow these young women to be unfairly held back in the starting blocks of their working lives when they could have the potential to achieve greatness."