Oral Answers to Questions

Mohammad Yasin Excerpts

Tuesday 25th May 2021 Commons Chamber

[James Murray (Ealing North) (Lab/Co-op)]

When his Department plans to publish the ACAS report on fire and rehire and the Government’s response to that report.

[Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab)]

When his Department plans to publish the ACAS report on fire and rehire and the Government’s response to that report.

[Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)]

What plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to outlaw fire and rehire practices.

--- Later in debate ---

[Paul Scully]

There is a distinct difference if the practice is used as a negotiation tactic: as I have said, if it is being used as a bully-boy tactic, that is completely unacceptable. However, there is an element of flexibility in our labour market, which we need to base on evidence. That is what the ACAS report is there to do. We are considering the evidence, and I am looking forward to coming back to this place to outline our actions in due course.

[Mohammad Yasin [V]]

Fire and rehire is illegal in countries such as Germany and Spain. In 2019, the Government promised an employment Bill to make Britain the best place in the world to work, which could have outlawed the practice, but the Bill has been ditched. Given that the Government have looked the other way as fire and rehire has become endemic, can the Minister seriously claim to be committed to making Britain the best place in the world to work?

[Paul Scully]

There is a huge difference between our employment law and that of Germany and Spain, in so much as theirs is very much more rigid—it lacks flexibility and that is reflected in the job figures and the job growth we have had in this country. The Government remain committed to bringing forward the employment Bill, where parliamentary time allows. We want to protect and enhance workers’ rights as we build back better from the pandemic.