Labour will increase paid maternity leave to 12 months and make it easier to work flexibly under plans to improve how women are treated at work.
Statutory maternity pay would go up from nine months so new mums could spend longer with their newborn babies before going back to work.
All employees could choose working hours that suit from day one in the job, allowing many parents to work part-time and flexibly.
And a future Labour government would require large employers to introduce a menopause workplace policy to break the stigma associated with that stage in life.
Labour also plans to create a new Workers’ Protection Agency working in partnership with HMRC with powers to fine organisations that fail to report their gender pay gap or do enough to close the pay gap.
Shadow Equalities minister Dawn Butler said: “Next Thursday, it is equal pay day, the day when women effectively stop getting paid for the rest of the year compared to their male counterparts.
“It’s a disgrace. I’m sick of how women are treated at work. Audits aren’t enough, we know there’s a problem that needs fixing. So we will do something about it.”
The rules on tackling sexual harassment in the workplace would be strengthened, making employers liable for any harassment experienced by staff by “third parties” such as customers or clients.
Employers would be required to publish their sexual harassment policies, while contractual clauses which stop the future disclosure of discrimination, harassment or victimisation will be made void.
Labour has previously promised to double paternity leave – and to extend paternity pay but hasn’t given detailed figures.
