The TUC has today (Tuesday) hailed an “historic day” for working
people as the government's flagship workers' rights Bill has
finally broken its House of Lords deadlock after months of
wrangling in parliament.
The legislation will introduce long overdue changes like a ban on
exploitative zero-hours contracts, day one sick pay and better
protection from harassment - among a range of other measures.
Conservative Peers – who have been blocking the legislation for
weeks – have finally stepped aside. It will now quickly receive
Royal Assent and become law.
This means that millions will benefit from day one sick pay for
all from April 2026. If the Bill had been delayed beyond
Christmas, the whole timetable would have been pushed back and
workers would have missed out on the first tranche of rights
coming into force in April.
Long overdue
The Employment Rights Bill will bring the UK closer to the
European mainstream. The UK has been an outlier on workers'
rights with insecure work rife in every corner of the country.
One in nine of the workforce are currently stuck in insecure
work, and one million are on zero-hours contracts.
The TUC says this huge upgrade in workers' rights is not just
good for workers, but good for the economy too - more money in
the pockets of workers means more spending in our local shops and
high streets.
Recent TUC analysis shows the wider benefits of the Bill are
£10.4 billion. This is significantly more than the costs, which
have previously been estimated at between £0.9bn and £5bn.
The TUC says this is a giant leap forward for stronger workers'
rights. There will now be a phase of consultations and secondary
legislation required to enact key rights – the TUC says it is
vital these rights are delivered in full and as quickly as
possible.
Commenting on the Employment Rights Bill passing the Lords,
completing its parliamentary passage and paving the way for it to
become law, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak
said:
“This is an historic day and early Christmas present for working
people across the country, and the trade unions who represent
them.
“Banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, sick pay for all,
expanding parental and bereavement leave, strengthening
protections for pregnant women, whistleblowers and victims of
sexual harassment, repealing Tory anti-union laws, ensuring union
access to workplaces, establishing a social care fair pay
agreement – these are just some of the watershed measures this
Bill will now deliver.
“Unions and workers have long campaigned for these vital rights.
Together, we have broken a decades long economic status quo
defined by insecurity, weak rights and poor pay.
“Finally, working people will enjoy more security, better pay and
dignity at work thanks to this Bill.
“It's now vital that workers start feeling the benefits of this
legislation in their lives as soon as possible. That means the
legislation must be implemented in full, and at speed – with
watertight secondary legislation to ensure there are no loopholes
for bad bosses to exploit.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- TUC and Hope Not Hate polling on popularity of measures
in the Bill: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/new-mega-poll-shows-employment-rights-bills-critics-are-world-away-british-public
