Women employees are in danger of being at the mercy of unscrupulous employers looking to cut their workforce during the recession.

A report by the Fawcett Society claims women bear the brunt of job cuts during the recession because they are more likely to work flexibly, be in part-time work or be on temporary contracts.

Since the last recession in the 1990s, the number of women in work in the UK has risen 1.5 million to 13.5 million. The employment gap has also decreased as the percentage of families headed by a lone mother has tripled over the past thirty years from seven percent in 1971 to 22 percent now, while among couples a woman’s income makes up a third of family income on average.

The Fawcett Society claims women employees were protected in the first round of the impact of the recession as they are concentrated in the public sector. However, as the recession rolls out, these jobs are also likely to come under threat. It adds just under a quarter of women are in the retail, hotel and restaurant trade and the impact of the downturn on this sector is expected to be seen in the statistics shortly.

The women's campaign group also points to issues such as women taking time off for pregnancy, being in vulnerable employment such as part-time work and having flexible working reduced as making women more at risk than men when firms make job cuts.

To reduce the impact of the recession on women, the group wants to see the government take action. It’s calling on the government to promote women’s rights in a bid to stamp out discrimination, deliver a bold package to end pay discrimination, promote flexible working as a solution to the downturn and fast-track women into decision making positions.

Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society, said: "This recession must not be used as an excuse to send women back to the kitchen. Women are now looking to the government to send out a strong signal to businesses that it will not compromise on women's rights."