Employment Rights Bill

Lord Bishop of Newcastle Excerpts

2nd reading
Thursday 27th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Lord Bishop of Newcastle]

My Lords, I am glad to speak in this Second Reading. I look forward to the maiden speeches and welcome new Members to your Lordships’ House.

Some years ago, I undertook research on the apostle Paul and work. Paul was never one to shy away from hard work and spoke of the personal cost of his tent making business, describing it as wearisome and fraught with the challenges of local politics. Two thousand years later, we continue to live amid diverse uncertainties.

The desire to make work pay and improve workers’ rights, as proposed by this Bill, must pay attention to the obvious: people who work are human beings. A strong economy needs resilient workers. As we scrutinise this legislation, we do so affirming that workers matter. If we get this right, we can move closer to a society in which people are viewed with inherent value and dignity. When people are valued and supported in what they do, they contribute to greater economic flourishing.

Noble Lords will know that in-work poverty has risen significantly in recent years, particularly in the north-east region, with those in less secure work much more likely to be experiencing poverty than those whose contracts offer basic protections and guaranteed hours. The disproportionately negative impact on the lives of children is well documented, with the North East Child Poverty Commission reporting heightened concern following yesterday’s Spring Statement. With the Bill before us today, legislating against exploitative contracts is a step forward in ensuring that every person can access good work, plan ahead and provide for themselves and their families. But there may be unforeseen consequences.

I welcome reforms to parental leave and strengthened flexible working. I would like to see a statutory right to paid kinship care leave on a par with adoption leave—a point made just now by my noble friend Lord Palmer. A right to paid leave would enable kinship carers to take time to make necessary adjustments and continue in paid employment. This is a matter I have already raised with the Minister, and I was very grateful for her time in listening. I raise this matter again here and look forward to further conversations.

At a time when SMEs face additional pressures, a challenging economic environment and additional costs through rising national insurance contributions for employers, I urge the Government to continue listening to the SME sector, much of which is part of the social enterprise economy, adding to community and individual resilience. There is deep concern among SMEs about the potential impact of union access to the cohesive nature of employer relations, points made noble Lords already.

In conclusion, while I welcome this Bill in extending basic rights, protections and entitlements to workers, concerns remain as to how these individual protections will truly enable collective flourishing and a stronger and resilient society for the confident future desired by everyone.