The Work and Pensions Committee has
today published the Government
response to its report on DWP’s preparations for changes
in the world of work.
The Committee’s report,
published in June, called for the DWP to work with other
departments to develop a strategy on how to respond to the impact
of new technology on the number of jobs, the skills needed and
the differential impact the changes could have on sectors,
regions and demographic groups.
It also reiterated the Committee’s call from June last year for
the Government to urgently bring forward an Employment Bill to
enhance the rights of workers in the low-paid and gig economy,
and made recommendations on retraining and skills.
Rt Hon MP, Chair of the Work and
Pensions Committee, said: “The DWP has not been
proactive enough in planning for long-term changes in the labour
market, which are transforming the way people work and the skills
they need to succeed. It is therefore disappointing that the
Government will not commit to a comprehensive cross-departmental
strategy aimed at preventing large groups of people being left
behind.
The wait also goes on for the long-promised Employment Bill. With
a rising number of people in precarious forms of work, such as
those on zero-hours contracts or in the gig economy, there is an
urgent need for legislation to ensure all workers are given the
employment protections they deserve.”
