The new Government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of employment law in what it is calling the ‘biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.’  The ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ sets out the Government’s agenda to boost wages, reduce insecure work and grow Britain’s economy. 

The wide-ranging Bill currently passing through Parliament (you can track its progress here) sets out to: 

• Ban exploitative zero-hours contracts 
• End ‘Fire and Rehire’ and ‘Fire and Replace’ 
• Make parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal a day one right 
• Strengthen statutory sick pay 
• Make flexible working the default from day one 
• Strengthen protections for pregnant women and new mothers returning to work  
• Strengthen protections from sexual harassment at work 
• Strengthen legislation around the allocation of tips 
• Strengthen protections around collective redundancy 
• Introduce a new right to bereavement leave 
• Establish a new Single Enforcement Body, called the Fair Work Agency 
• Establish Fair Pay Agreements in the adult social care sector 
• Reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body 
• Upgrade Trade Union legislation

The Committee is launching this inquiry, which will take written and oral evidence with a view to informing the later stages of the Bill’s passage through Parliament, to help assess whether it will achieve these aims. Areas to consider include: 

• How the Bill will contribute to the Government’s stated goal of achieving the fastest growth in the G7.
• Whether the Employment Rights Bill will adequately protect workers, improve security at work and raise living standards in every part of the country.
• The impact the Bill will have on businesses, in particular investment rates, start-up rates, the supply of labour and the employment rate.
• How to ensure adequate protection against exporting poor labour standards, including concerns over forced labour in international supply chains.