Half of working mothers unable to access enough childcare during coronavirus crisis, poll finds

Lack of support ‘destroying women’s careers’, says campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed

Labour leader Keir Starmer has warned that parents were being put in an "impossible position" (Getty)

Half of working mothers are unable to get the childcare they need to return to their jobs during the coronavirus crisis, a survey has found.

Campaigners said the lack of support was “destroying women’s careers” as the government eased its work-from-home guidance.

More than two thirds (72 per cent) of mothers have had to work fewer hours because of childcare issues, according to the poll of nearly 20,000 women.

Meanwhile 15 per cent of mothers and 11 per cent of pregnant women have been made redundant, or think they could be in the next six months.

Last week Boris Johnson said that from 1 August, employers would be able to decide how their staff can work safely, whether in the office or from home.

However Joeli Brearley, founder of the group Pregnant Then Screwed, which carried out the survey, said this ”completely ignores the realities facing women”.

“We need the government to open its eyes to the gender imbalance that Covid-19 is exacerbating,” she added.

“We need to see provisions in place to support mothers who are struggling with childcare through no fault of their own.

“We need to help pregnant women and mums to be treated on merit, not on how many kids they have. The time to change this is now.

“This lack of childcare is destroying women’s careers, they are being made redundant, they are being forced to cut their hours, and they are being treated negatively all because they are picking up the unpaid labour.”

While 81 per cent of employed mothers need childcare to be able to work, some 51 per cent do not have the necessary provisions in place to allow them to do so, the group’s poll found.

Other findings include:

• Nearly two thirds of those furloughed (65 per cent) say lack of childcare was the reason behind it.

• Almost half (46 per cent) of those made redundant say lack of childcare played a role in the decision.

• ​More than half (53.2 per cent) of pregnant women made redundant believe that their pregnancy was a factor.

• Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of self-employed mothers say their earning potential is reduced due to lack childcare.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has warned that parents were being put in an “impossible position” over a return to offices due to a lack of childcare support.

Additional reporting by Press Association