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.
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.”
Notes to editors
Report information:
