The UK Labour Government’s new Employment Rights Bill represents the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.
From ending exploitative zero-hours contracts to strengthening Statutory Sick Pay, we are making good on our promise to Make Work Pay, grow the economy and raise living standards across the country.
The last Tory Government fuelled hostility and confrontation leading to the worst period in industrial relations since the 1980s. Working people were left worse off, millions of lives were disrupted and our economy suffered as a result. This caused chaos and misery for the British public and it wreaked havoc on the public finances.
Labour was elected to end that chaos and that’s exactly what we are doing. Our employment laws are out of date, and we will upgrade working people’s security so that it is fit for the modern UK economy.
Working with businesses and trade unions we have struck the right balance and made sure this is a plan that works for employees and business – we have heard the concerns of employers and will work with them to ensure this can work for businesses of all sizes.
The bill will bring forward 31 individual employment reforms, from ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices, to establishing day one rights to paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers. Statutory Sick Pay will also be strengthened, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in.
Tory and Reform MPs have already teamed up to oppose these changes which give workers extra job security and better rights. Remember that when they pretend to be the voice of ordinary workers in future.
Under these proposals:
- Over 1 million people on zero hours contracts will benefit from the guaranteed hours policy.
- 9 million people have been with their employer for less than two years and will benefit from the Day 1 Unfair Dismissal policy.
- An additional 1.5 million parents will be brought into scope by making Unpaid Parental Leave a Day 1 right.
- An estimated 4,000 pregnant women and mothers returning from Maternity Leave a year are dismissed each year at present, who will benefit from new protections.
- 1 in 5 dads and partners that are eligible for paternity leave take no leave at all. 1.7 million people who are out of the labour market because they are looking after family or their home will benefit from new policies on flexible working and others
- 1.1 million employees did not get any of the paid holiday they were entitled to last year. The new Fair Work Agency will enforce holiday pay for the first time.
The Employment Rights Bill represents just one of a series of measures which, taken together, outline the government’s vision and long-term strategy for the plan to Make Work Pay to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all.
I will continue to champion these proposals and play my part to help deliver stronger rights and protections for all workers, both here in Llanelli and across the rest of the country too.