Deputy Prime Minister confirms Employment Rights Bill will be published ‘next month’

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has confirmed that the Employment Rights Bill will be published in October, within the first 100 days of the nwely elected Labour government.

Addressing the annual Labour Conference in Liverpool, Angela Rayner MP told delegates that the Employment Rights Bill will be tabled in Parliament when they return from recess next month:

“I promised the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, nothing less than a new deal for working people, and I can confirm today that the Employment Rights Bill will be tabled in Parliament next month. They said we couldn’t do it, some tried to stop it in its tracks, but after years of opposition we are on the verge of historic legislation.

“To make work more secure and family friendly. Go further and faster to close the gender pay gap. Ensure rights are enforced and trade unions strengthened. That means repealing the Tories’ anti-worker laws and new rights for union reps too. A genuine living wage and sick ay for the lowest earners. Banning exploitative zero-hour contracts and unpaid internships. Ending fire and rehire and we will bring in basic rights from day one of the job. This our pan to make work pay, coming to a workplace near you.”

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said:

“The new deal for workers is something that Usdaw long campaigned for and we are delighted that the deputy prime minister confirmed that our new Labour Government is getting on with job in the first 100 days of taking power, as promised. This is the kind of transformational change that we voted for.

“Tackling low paid and insecure work will make a real difference to our members and finally ensure that all workers receive dignity and respect. The Government has already made a great start by changing the remit of the Low Pay Commission, requiring them to take account of the cost of living when setting minimum wage rates and to bring an end to rip-off youth rates.”

Labour’s self-imposed 100 day time limit means that their draft Employment Bill should be laid before Parliament by 12 October 2024. Bills aren’t published on a Saturday and Friday is normally reserved for Private Members’ Bills, which means if the Bill is published on the last day of the 100 day period, it will most likely be on Thursday 10 October 2024.