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Working people

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Jo Cullen from local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash takes a look at some of the legislation which is expected to be introduced as part of the government’s ‘new deal for working people’

The King’s Speech in July confirmed Labour’s commitment to implementing their “Plan to make work pay: delivering a new deal for working people,” which sets out ambitious changes to workplace rules and regulations. 

An Employment Rights Bill will introduce new laws to implement the proposals under Labour’s ‘New deal for working people’. It is expected the new legislation will include:

  • Day one rights for all workers: this will cover rights for parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal. 
  • Zero-hour contracts: banning exploitative contracts, making sure workers have a right to a contract that reflects the hours they regularly work.
  • Fire and rehire/fire and replace: ending current practices by reforming the law and replacing the statutory code currently in place.
  • Sick pay: removal of the lower earnings limit and waiting period for statutory sick pay.
  • Flexible working: making flexible working the default position for all workers from day one of employment.
  • Protections for new mothers: strengthening rights making it unlawful to dismiss a woman who has had a baby for six months after she comes back to work.
  • Fair Work Agency: creation of a new agency to enforce workplace rights.
  • Fair pay agreement: introducing a new agreement for the adult social care sector.
  • Repealing the law on minimum service levels in relation to industrial action.
  • Simplifying the process of statutory recognition for trade unions.
  • Introducing a right for workers and union members to access a union within workplaces.
  • A timetable has not yet been published for the implementation of the proposed changes but the promise by Labour to introduce the Bill within the first 100 days of taking office suggests it may be presented to Parliament in the autumn. 

Separately, a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill will tackle inequality for ethnic minorities and disabled people to create a more equal society and to support a growing economy. The draft Bill will look to expand equal pay protections and introduce mandatory ethnicity and disability pay reporting for larger employers.


Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For more information, call 020 8514 9000 or visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk

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