The Business and Trade Committee has published the Government’s
response to its UK Labour Markets report published in April, with
the Committee chair calling out Ministers for their lack of
seriousness in enforcing workers’ rights.
The report called for the Government to bolster the resources of
the Director of Labour Market Enforcement after the Committee
heard that they would need 1,797 more labour market inspectors to
reach the international benchmark.
Chair's comment
The Business and Trade Committee Chair, said:
“When will the Government get serious about enforcing workers’
rights? Time and again we heard our enforcement bodies’ resources
don’t even get close to half that recommended by the UN’s
International Labour Organization.”
“In the week of the McDonald’s revelations, workers and victims
would’ve been expecting more.”
“Ministers keep telling us they take rights seriously but will
only make changes ‘when parliamentary time allows’, but the House
of Commons has plenty of time available. We call on the
Government to reconsider using the King’s Speech as the last time
to bring forward important legal changes before the next election
in an employment rights bill.”
“The Government must get a grip if we are to give ourselves the
best chance of kickstarting economic growth to recover from the
economic hits of covid and higher inflation.”
