Latest News
Parliament to debate proposals to end zero-hour contracts
19 January 2018
The Workers’ Definition and Rights Bill, brought by SNP MP Chris Stephens, is set to have its second reading in Parliament today.
Brexit bill drops human rights charter, including collective bargaining protections
19 January 2018
The EU (Withdrawal) Bill was voted through parliament yesterday with a slim majority of 29 (324 to 295), still including a clause that drops the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights.
Official report criticises govt’s management of UK’s largest rail franchise
12 January 2018
The National Audit Office (NAO) this week published its report into the management of the UK's largest rail franchise, criticising the Department for Transport's (DfT) strategy as contributing to a trend of worsening performance.
Knight review holds back from recommending e-balloting for industrial action ballots
12 January 2018
Facing widespread opposition to the Trade Union Act 2016, the government was forced to make a concession to trade union rights in the form of a review into the possibility of allowing industrial action ballots to be performed electronically.
Lords discuss “valuable” IER report on collective bargaining in social care
10 January 2018
The House of Lords discussed the Institute of Employment Rights' report 8 Good Reasons Why Adult Social Care Needs Sectoral Collective Bargaining during a debate on the human rights of older people.
Gender pay gap reports show men earn up to 65% more
08 January 2018
Over 500 companies have reported on gender pay discrepancies, and the data shows a significant gap remains between the wages female and male staff receive.
Brexit Trade Bill ‘includes sweeping powers to erode human rights’
08 January 2018
The Trade Bill – part of a raft of legislation triggered by the UK's decision to leave the EU – will have its second reading in the House of Commons today and tomorrow, and it gives the government sweeping powers that could be used to erode human rights.
While we were away….all the news you may have missed over the Christmas break
05 January 2018
Happy New Year to all our readers! This special news brief provides a round-up of all the news and developments that have occurred since our last pre-Christmas mailing.
For an update on employment law developments throughout 2017, don't miss out on our Employment Law Update conference on Thursday 18 January in Liverpool, which is now only £50 to attend. Keep an eye out, too, for our Labour Law Highlights 2017 publication which will be hot off the press later this month.
‘Landmark’ EU ruling: gig workers have right to claim annual leave for untaken holidays
01 December 2017
In a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) earlier this week, a window salesman misclassified as 'self employed' by his employer was awarded 13 years worth of annual leave payments.
Proposals to improve workers’ rights welcome, but reform must go further still
20 November 2017
Today's publication of a draft bill from the Works and Pensions (DWP) Committee and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee to improve workers' rights and strengthen their enforcement is welcome, but the Institute of Employment Rights says reform must go further still to adequately protect workers.
Govt votes down proposal to enshrine EU workers’ rights in primary legislation
17 November 2017
The government has voted down proposals to enshrine EU-derived workers' rights in primary legislation during the UK's exit from the bloc, so that any changes to employment law must face a a democratic vote in parliament rather than being made unilaterally by the Conservative Party.
Leaked doc suggests EU seeking a CETA-style trade deal with UK
17 November 2017
A leaked document from Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier suggests that the EU will seek a trade relationship with the UK that is reminiscent of the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) the bloc agreed with Canada.
