New laws to protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace and to improve their job security are part of NSW Labor's new gender equity policy.

The ALP aims to appoint women to half the government places on boards and committees if it wins the state election.

It would also aim to fill 40 per cent of senior positions in the public sector with women by 2019.

Opposition spokesman for Industrial Relations, Adam Searle, released Labor's "Protecting Women at Work" policy on Monday, 1targetting gender equity and discrimination.

He said Labor would amend discrimination laws to include a positive legal duty on employers to reasonably accommodate the needs of pregnant workers.

New protections from sex discrimination in the form of redundancy, pay discrimination and non-renewal of work contracts for women who are pregnant would also be introduced.

Tracey Spicer, the convenor of Women in the Media and advocate of rights for working women, welcomed Labor's proposals, saying they were needed to address discrimination against pregnant women and those returning from maternity leave.

She said she has received at least one email each week from women who have been sidelined, or sacked while pregnant, or after having a baby.

"One female journalist at the ABC, who had done regular, weekly, contracted work for 10 years, was told, after she had her baby, that she would no longer be needed," Ms Spicer said.

"Another woman - who works in hospitality and catering - told her boss she could get child care for any night except Tuesdays, after she had her baby. Guess what? He rostered her on Tuesday nights, because he said she was being "difficult".

"A third woman who contacted me said she had her most lucrative client taken from her [she's a sales rep] while she was pregnant because, "We can't risk losing this guy because of baby brain".

After the birth of her first child, Ms Spicer said one manager tried to sideline her to make way for "younger, fresher" news presenters.

"When I asserted my rights, I was put on increasingly difficult shifts, in the hope I would resign," she said.

"Then, three weeks after returning from maternity leave after the birth of my second child, I lost my job."

Labor's policy would impose a positive duty on employers to reasonably accommodate the needs of pregnant workers and those with carer responsibilities.

"The evidence is clear that in the early 21st century there remains widespread discrimination towards pregnant women," Mr Searle said. "We need to re-examine discrimination in the workplace after pregnancy, including women's experiences while on parental leave and on returning to the workplace.

"While many employers do not set out to discriminate, they often struggle to balance their legal obligations with the pressures of running a business.

"As a result, redundancies and restructures have been used as a pretext to dismiss employees who are pregnant, on parental leave or have family and caring responsibilities."