# Stronger dismissal protection for parents

> “The government will take forward the measures set out in this response, strengthening dismissal protections for pregnant women, new mothers and other parents. These changes will be implemented through regulations, with the government intending for measures to come into force in October 2027.”
>
> — HM Government; Government response to enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers, 22 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Transport & economy](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/transport-and-economy)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 22 October 2026
- **Where:** Government response to enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers
- **Deadline:** 31 October 2027
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Pregnant women, new mothers and other parents at work
- **When:** In force from October 2027
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-enhanced-dismissal-protections-for-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers/outcome/government-response-to-enhanced-dismissal-protections-for-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers (checked word for word at its source on 25 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 25 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-pregnancy-dismissal-protections-2027

## Where it stands

Part of the plan to Make Work Pay. The department's press release says the measures include replacing the band of reasonable responses test with a proportionality test from October 2027. "October 2027" is read as 31 October 2027. The card moves when the regulations are made.

## Timeline

- 22 October 2026, Promised: The government says stronger dismissal protections for pregnant women, new mothers and other parents will come into force in October 2027
- 31 October 2027, Deadline (to come): Stronger dismissal protections due in force in October 2027

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, 22 Oct 2026: Government response to enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-enhanced-dismissal-protections-for-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers/outcome/government-response-to-enhanced-dismissal-protections-for-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers)
- [Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade press release, 22 Oct 2026: Stronger protections for pregnant women and new parents against unfair dismissal](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stronger-protections-for-pregnant-women-and-new-parents-against-unfair-dismissal)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 25 October 2026.

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