A WOMAN is being pushed out of her job every seven minutes for “daring to procreate,” new research suggested today.

The report, by Pregnant Then Screwed, in partnership with Women In Data, estimated that up to 74,000 women are losing their jobs each year for getting pregnant or taking maternity leave.

The figures demonstrate a sharp 37 per cent rise from the 54,000 recorded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2016.

More than 35,800 parents were surveyed for the report, with a nationally representative sample taken for the analysis.

It found that nearly one in eight (12.3 per cent) women were sacked, constructively dismissed or made redundant while pregnant, on maternity leave, or within a year of returning from maternity leave. 

Analysts estimated that when the research is scaled, approximately 74,000 women are forced to leave their jobs annually.

The research found that 49.5 per cent of women who are pregnant, on maternity leave, or returning to their jobs, had a negative experience at work, with one-fifth leaving their employer.

More than a third — 35.9 per cent — said they were sidelined or demoted and 12.4 per cent reported being bullied or harassed while pregnant, on maternity leave, or after returning.

Despite this, only 2 per cent of women who encounter discrimination raise a tribunal claim. 

Pregnant Then Screwed founder Joeli Brearley said: ‘’To find that 74,000 mothers a year are being pushed out of their job for daring to procreate is not surprising, but it is devastating. 

“That’s a woman being pushed out of her job every seven minutes in the UK for doing something that is part of the human existence.’’ 

She noted that the government commissioned a report on maternity discrimination in 2016 and found conditions had “significantly deteriorated” over the decade prior.

The government vowed to repeat the research every five years, but this has failed to happen, the charity said.

Ms Brearley added: “What sort of message does this send to women — that the government cares so little about this issue that they can’t even be bothered to collect the data.”

The campaign is demanding firms increase paternity leave, create family-friendly workplaces and collect maternity retention data to offer further insight into company behaviour.

Young Women’s Trust chief executive Claire Reindorp said: “In our most recent annual survey, HR decision makers told us that they are aware of young women being discriminated against for being pregnant or while on parental leave.

“Shockingly, nearly a fifth told us that they would be reluctant to even hire a woman who they thought might then go on to start a family. 

“We need to see stronger action to stamp this out, making it easier for women to report discrimination — and tougher measures in place for bosses who act in this way.” 

Equality Trust co-executive director Jo Wittams said: “Flexible working must be the default, childcare should be seen as essential infrastructure and receive appropriate investment, paid parental leave must be reformed and employers must be held accountable for their inaction. 

“No-one should have to choose between raising a family and working, yet this is the reality for thousands of women in the UK today.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “No-one should be losing their job as a result of getting pregnant.

“This is why the measures in the Employment Rights Bill — such as giving pregnant women and new mothers a period where they are protected from being dismissed — are so important.”

Pregnant Then Screwed will live stream a giant shredder destroying the CVs of mothers today, on a billboard in Westfield shopping centre in London.

Posters will also be plastered across Britain on the same day that the latest series of The Apprentice airs, with the words: “Mum, you’re fired.”

The government was contacted for comment.