Employment Law: King’s Speech Update
The Labour party planned a number of significant Employment Law changes should it gain power. Following the landslide victory, it will be interesting to see whether the new government delivers on the pledges contained within its manifesto and do it in the 100-day time limit it set itself.
Following the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, it was highlighted that the new government is committed to putting forward the Employment Rights Bill based on the principles of ‘making work pay’ by introducing a ‘new deal for working people to ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights’.
Employment Rights Bill- Employers should be prepared for the quite drastic changes proposed in the bill and keep an eye on our website for regular updates on the changes and how they might impact you and your business.
To recap, some of the key changes Labour proposes to make are as follows:
- To simplify employment status in relation to ‘workers’ and the ‘genuinely self-employed’,
- To enhance existing employment protections by making flexible working, the right to bring a claim for unfair dismissal and the rights to sick pay and parental leave ‘day one rights’,
- To prevent the abuse of zero-hour contracts,
- To put an end to ‘fire and rehire’ practices,
- Enhance redundancy protections,
- Strengthen trade union rights, and
- Expanding equality reporting in the workplace.
Equality (Race and Disability) Bill - Another of Labour’s proposals referred to by the King is that of Disability Pay Reporting, with the introduction of the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill with the intention that it will mirror the existing obligations on those employing more than 250 people regarding Gender Pay Gap Reporting.
What next?
It is thought that the 100-day deadline referred to in Labour’s manifesto started running from the date of the King’s Speech, meaning the clock is ticking! We will endeavour to keep you updated over the next 100 days on the progress of these proposals and the subsequent impact they will have on you and your business. If you have any questions regarding the changes we will see under the new government, please do not hesitate to contact our Employment team.
