Almost three-quarters of mothers in Britain have been forced to cut work hours because of childcare issues under COVID-19 lockdowns, according to a survey by a maternal rights group which warned more action was needed to protect women's careers.

People gather to listen to speakers at a protest organized by "Keep Britain Free" in London on Sunday, in response to the government's decision to impose mask wearing for shoppers as a precaution against COVID-19. Photo: AFP

More than eight in 10 employed mothers said they needed childcare to be able to work, but fewer than half said they had enough childcare to let them do their job during the pandemic, showed the survey by Pregnant Then Screwed released on Saturday.

"This lack of childcare is destroying women's careers," said the campaign group's founder and chief executive Joeli Brearley.

"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 labor."

Studies around the world have found women are picking up more of the extra chores and childcare during the pandemic.

The International Labour Organization has warned coronavirus could wipe out "the modest progress" made on gender equality at work in recent decades, with women globally at greater risk of losing their jobs.

Across Britain, schools and nurseries were ordered to close under lockdown, leaving many families struggling to balance work with childcare and home schooling responsibilities.

The Department for Education said it was working to ensure hard-hit nurseries and childcare providers in England stay afloat as they gradually reopen by "block-buying" childcare places for the rest of 2020.

"This will provide financial security to nurseries and childminders, meaning they can continue to provide the high quality childcare needed by parents as they return to work," said a spokeswoman in emailed comments.

Many women also reported that they were losing their jobs entirely due to pregnancy or childcare issues during the lockdown, according to the survey of almost 20,000 pregnant women and mothers conducted online last week.

Amongst those who were or expected to be made redundant during the pandemic, about half said they believed that their pregnancy or problems with childcare had played a role.

Black and ethnic minority women, up to 13.9 percent of  residential labor force, were more likely to report that they were being made redundant, or expected to be, as a result of having children.
Newspaper headline: Female labor force confront inequality