The newly re-formed Business and Trade Committee is launching its first call for evidence on the Government’s new flagship Employment Rights Bill.
The new Government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of employment law in what it is calling the ‘biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.’ The ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ sets out the Government’s agenda to boost wages, reduce insecure work and grow Britain’s economy.
The wide-ranging Bill currently passing through Parliament (you can track its progress here) sets out to:
- Ban exploitative zero-hours contracts
- End ‘Fire and Rehire’ and ‘Fire and Replace’
- Make parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal a day one right
- Strengthen statutory sick pay
- Make flexible working the default from day one
- Strengthen protections for pregnant women and new mothers returning to work
- Strengthen protections from sexual harassment at work
- Strengthen legislation around the allocation of tips
- Strengthen protections around collective redundancy
- Introduce a new right to bereavement leave
- Establish a new Single Enforcement Body, called the Fair Work Agency
- Establish Fair Pay Agreements in the adult social care sector
- Reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body
- Upgrade Trade Union legislation
The Committee is launching this inquiry, which will take written and oral evidence with a view to informing the later stages of the Bill’s passage through Parliament, to help assess whether it will achieve these aims. Areas to consider include:
- How the Bill will contribute to the Government’s stated goal of achieving the fastest growth in the G7.
- Whether the Employment Rights Bill will adequately protect workers, improve security at work and raise living standards in every part of the country.
- The impact the Bill will have on businesses, in particular investment rates, start-up rates, the supply of labour and the employment rate.
- How to ensure adequate protection against exporting poor labour standards, including concerns over forced labour in international supply chains.