The government proposals set out plans which would protect and enhance workers’ rights and aim to make the UK the best place in the world to work. This included plans to introduce the right to request flexible working for around 2.2 million people in Great Britain – regardless of time served in a bid to modernise the way we work. However, the Bill which would have brought about the new legislation, was not included in the Queen’s Speech earlier this week (10 May 2022).
The Employment Rights Bill would have presented an opportunity to improve the ability for workers to obtain redress in the event of poor treatment or discrimination through the development of a single labour market enforcement body. Poor employment practices, such as insecure work through long-term zero-hours contracts, unilaterally changing workers’ terms and conditions by terminating their contracts and re-hiring them on new terms and conditions (also known as fire and rehire), and the sacking of workers without notice, as recently demonstrated by P & O Ferries, could have been outlawed under new legislation.
Alison Jones, Director of Policy at the PDA said, “We are disappointed that the government has failed to act on a key manifesto pledge and bring forward the Employment Rights Bill in the Queen’s Speech. There is an important balance to be reached around securing and promoting workers’ rights in the workplace and the needs of business. The Bill would have gone some way, through the development of a new single enforcement body, to strengthen employment practice and prevent unscrupulous employers from failing to meet their legal obligations.
Being part of a trade union is the best way to protect your rights at work, and to receive support and advice when you believe that these rights are being breached, or if you are subject to unfair or discriminatory employment practice.”
Learn more
- Millions to be empowered by government plans to strengthen day one employment rights and increase productivity of businesses
- Employers should not fire and rehire
- Stop “Fire and rehire”
- Discrimination: Know your rights and seek advice and support from the PDA
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