In Wednesday’s King’s Speech, Labour had set out the legislative agenda for their first months in government. Worker’s rights were at the heart of the legislative programme set out by King Charles III, which the government pledged would be “mission led” and “based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all”.
The state opening of parliament speech confirmed the Labour government will legislate to introduce a new deal for working people to “ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights” through a new employment rights bill.
It has promised to work in partnership with both businesses and working people to deliver the changes.
In line with the briefing notes, the Employment Rights Bill is set to include the following:
- Making parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal available from day 1 (subject to special rules for probationary periods)
- Banning zero-hour contracts, making sure that workers have a right to a contract that reflects the hours they regularly work
- Ending ‘fire and rehire’ and ‘fire and replace’ by reforming the law and replacing the statutory code
- Removing the lower earnings limit and waiting period for Statutory Sick pay
- Making flexible working the default for all workers from day one and requiring employers to accommodate this as far as is reasonable
- Making it unlawful to dismiss a woman who has had a baby for six months after she comes back to work (with certain exceptions)
- Creating the Fair Work Agency to enforce workplace rights
- Introducing a Fair Pay Agreement in the adult social care sector
- Repealing the law on minimum service levels in relation to industrial action
- Simplifying the process of statutory recognition for trade unions
- Introducing a right for workers and union members to access a union within workplaces
In addition to the above, Labour proposes a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill which proposes to “enshrine the full right to equal pay law” for disabled people and ethnic minorities. The same bill also proposes mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting.
The King also confirmed that the government would reform the apprenticeship levy, along with establishing a body called Skills England, which “will have a new partnership with employment at its heart”. It is said that the change to the apprenticeship was needed to “help reverse the decline in apprenticeships for young people and make it easier for employers to use their levy funds to upskill their existing workforce”.
Please note that these employment law changes are not currently set in stone and may adapt as and when the different bills go through Parliament. Therefore, once changes are finalised, we will provide a clear update to ensure you are aware of these.
Whilst these changes to employment rights are welcomed, it has been promised that they will ensure a thorough consultation takes place with employers and trade unions, and potentially compromise in places, to ensure any changes have a positive impact on workplace practices and employment opportunities.