The Employment Rights Bill, unveiled by the government, includes 28 reforms aimed at improving workers’ rights. It will put an end to zero-hour contracts and fire and rehire practices, as well as introduce changes to sick pay and flexible working conditions. The bill also ensures that zero-hours workers and those on low-hours contracts are offered guaranteed hours contracts if they work regular hours over a defined period.
Additionally, protections will be put in place to prevent unfair dismissal from day one of employment. Statutory entitlements to paternity leave, parental leave, and bereavement leave will be introduced from day one as well. Flexible working will become the default unless employers can prove it’s unreasonable, making workplaces more compatible with people’s lives.
The bill also addresses gender pay gaps by requiring large employers to create action plans to tackle pay disparities. Protections against dismissing pregnant women and mothers will be strengthened. Access to statutory sick pay will be universal, available from the first day of absence, and the lower-earnings limit will be removed.
Furthermore, a new Fair Work Agency will be established to enforce employment rights, including holiday pay. The government aims to modernize employment laws to boost pay, productivity, and overall economic growth. The bill includes measures to end pay discrimination, expand reporting on ethnicity and disability pay gaps, and scrap anti-union laws.
While some details are still being worked out, the bill has been welcomed by unions for its shift towards better rights and pay for workers. Business groups have also expressed support, although some have criticized the rushed nature of the legislation. The launch of the Employment Rights Bill follows the government’s efforts to increase pay for public sector staff and resolve disputes with unions through negotiations. Please rephrase this sentence.
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