The Bill’s ‘sunset clause’ was originally going to automatically repeal any EU law not enshrined in UK law by the end of 2023. Critics of the Bill were concerned that this gave the government powers to reform or remove laws without normal Parliamentary scrutiny. This would have abolished many improvements to workers’ rights which were enacted through the EU legislature.
The Working Time Directive is now going to be retained and no major employment rights will be removed at this time. However, the government has still stated its intention to reduce record-keeping for working time purposes. The government has also stated its intention to introduce ‘rolled up’ holiday pay and merge two separate leave entitlements into one pot of statutory leave.
PDA Director, Paul Day said, “Part of the role of the PDA is to be the trade union for pharmacists. Trade unions lead the campaigns to secure laws relating to rights at work and trade unions will now fight to retain them. Though we have won this battle, holiday pay, parental rights and health and safety protections remain vulnerable. If a government aims to reduce the rights at work of pharmacists, and others, then we will need to keep fighting those proposals.”
More information about this Bill can be found here and those wishing to can write to their MP here to oppose the Bill.
Learn more
- Equality law is a step forward for pharmacists in Guernsey, but UK may go backwards
- Write to your MP: Don’t rip up key workplace protections
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