Better working conditions on the way

Working conditions are set to improve for millions of people under a new bill to ‘make work pay’.

The government have pledged to bring in the Employment Rights Bill within 100 days of office. First discussions between the government, businesses and trade unions took place on 14 August, with further talks to be held.

What’s in the Employment Rights Bill?

The government’s pledged to improve our rights by:

• banning zero-hours contracts
• ending fire and rehire tactics
• introducing basic rights from day one, including parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal
• creating a ‘single enforcement body’ to ensure employment rights are upheld
• making sure the minimum wage accounts for the cost of living
• removing minimum wage age bands so all adults receive the same minimum pay
• giving people a stronger voice through their trade unions

How will the bill improve working conditions?

The government say the plan will:

• ensure workplace rights are fit for a modern economy
• deliver economic growth
• support more people in staying in work
• make work more family friendly
• improve living standards

‘The biggest transformation of workers’ rights’

A range of trade unions and business organisations have welcome the proposed changes.

The CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said the upcoming changes will mean “the biggest transformation of workers’ rights in a generation”.

And an analysis by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found these reforms would tackle the disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic workers in insecure job roles.

The TUC said: “Together, we can raise the floor so that every job has the pay and security that families need to thrive, workers have access to unions, and good employers are not undercut by the bad.”