Labour will force a vote in the House of Commons on Monday to
protect holiday pay entitlements and safe working limits
following Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng’s admission this week
that employment protections are being reviewed to see which to
scrap and which to keep.
Despite repeated but vague promises from Ministers that they have
no plans to rip up the rights of workers, it has now been
revealed that the Government will consult on changes which could
mean:
- Ending the inclusion of overtime in how holiday pay is
calculated, leaving workers hundreds of pounds out of pocket
- A longer working week, with no legal cap on the number of
hours employers can make their employees work
- An end to the legal right to rest breaks at work
Labour’s motion calls on the Government to specifically rule out
any changes to the 48-hour working week, rest breaks at work, or
holiday pay entitlements. The motion also calls on the Government
to outlaw fire and rehire tactics.
Taking a wrecking ball to these hard-won rights would leave
workers and their families worse off and risk the safety of key
workers including hauliers and airline workers who are currently
legally protected from working excessive hours.
, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for
Employment Rights and Protections, said:
“In the middle of a pandemic and an economic crisis, Ministers
are considering ripping up workers’ rights. This could see people
across the country worse off, losing out on holiday pay and
working longer hours.
“Scrapping the 48-hour working week cap could mean many key
workers feel pressured to work excessive hours. The Government
should be focused on securing our economy and rebuilding the
country, not taking a wrecking ball to hard-won rights.
“The Government’s true colours are on full display once again and
it’s clear their priorities couldn’t be further from those of
workers and their families. But on Monday MPs across the House
will have a chance to vote on the side of working people and
protect our key workers.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The Opposition Day debate motion, tabled today, is as follows:
Andy McDonald
The Government’s Plans for Employment Rights
That this House believes that all existing employment rights and
protections must be maintained, including the 48-hour working
week, rest breaks at work and inclusion of overtime pay when
calculating some holiday pay entitlements, and calls upon the
Government to set out to Parliament by the end of January 2021 a
timetable to introduce legislation to end “fire and re-hire”
tactics.
