On 10 October, the government revealed its plans to make major changes to workers’ rights under the Employment Rights Bill.

The new bill, which is set to be introduced in parliament, will bring in legislation to strengthen workers’ rights across the UK. It will bring forward 28 individual employment reforms, including ending zero-hour contracts and ‘fire and rehire’ practices.

The bill will also provide more rights for working parents. Parents will be eligible for unpaid parental leave from day one of employment, rather than after one year. Unpaid bereavement leave will also become a right for workers from their first day, and workers will be eligible for statutory sick pay from the first day they are ill, rather than the fourth day. 

Flexible working is also on the agenda, with workplaces having to consider flexible working requests from day one and approve them unless they are unreasonable.

Speaking about the bill, Jonathan Reynolds, the business and trade secretary, said that “the best employers know that employees are more productive when they are happy at work”. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, added that Labour was “turning the page on an economy riven with insecurity, ravaged by dire productivity and blighted by low pay”.

While the bill has been seen as a step in the right direction by many, some experts have expressed views that it doesn’t go far enough to give workers the support they deserve. The general secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, said the bill “is without doubt a significant step forward for workers but stops short of making work pay”, and accused Labour of “trying to avoid what was promised” at the general election. 

Images: Getty