Last week, the government introduced to Parliament the Employment Rights Bill – the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation.
I am proud that the Bill will support the Government’s mission to secure economic growth by giving the British public the work, wages, prosperity, security and dignity that everyone needs and deserves.
A job should offer a route out of poverty. But too many – in our community and across the country – have been stuck for too long in low-paid, insecure and low-quality work.
Employers who pay fairly and treat their workers well, are being undercut by employers who do not.
That’s why I’m glad that the bill will ban exploitative zero and low hours contracts by introducing a right to a guaranteed hours contract, a right to reasonable notice of shifts, and payment for shift cancellation and curtailment at short notice.
It will introduce day one protection from unfair dismissal, increase protection from sexual harassment in the workplace and end unscrupulous fire and rehire and fire and replace practices.
I also know that despite existing protections, work is not always a level playing field. Too many are held back at work because they are raising children, caring for older relatives, or looking after a loved one with a long-term health condition.
This is not modern, fair, or sustainable. It inhibits the potential of individuals to get on and earn, and it stops businesses from filling vacancies and harnessing the talent they need for growth.
The measures in this bill will introduce day one entitlement to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave, and introduce a statutory entitlement to bereavement leave.
The bill will also put gender equality front and centre, by expanding gender pay gap reporting requirements, requiring large employers to produce action plans on how to address their gender pay gaps and support employees through the menopause, and strengthening rights for pregnant workers and new mothers.
Labour understands that trade unions are essential for tackling insecurity, inequality, and low pay. That is why we will repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and the Trade Union Act 2016, and bring archaic and prohibitive trade union legislation into the 21st century. We are bringing forward multiple measures to protect workers from dismissal and blacklisting for trade union activity, ensure workers understand their right to join a trade union, to simplify the statutory recognition process, and to bring in a new right of access for union officials to meet.
With this Bill, Labour has met its commitment to bring forward workplace rights legislation within 100 days of being in power. It is one part of our plan to bring Britain into line with many other advanced economies around the world, and make sure every worker, no matter where they work or what they do, is fairly treated, well protected, and reasonably paid.
Going forward, the Government will continue to work hand-in-hand on these changes with business, trade unions and civil society in a spirit of partnership to get Britain moving again.