Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure the effective enforcement of young women’s rights at work.

The landmark Employment Rights Bill is set to have a transformative impact, ensuring workplace rights are fit for a modern economy and empowering working people, including young women.

As part of the Bill we are increasing the time limit within which employees are able to make an Employment Tribunal claim from 3 months to 6 months.

We are also strengthening protections against harassment; requiring employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees; and introducing an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties. Furthermore, we have announced that we will ban non-disclosure agreements used by employers to silence employees subjected to harassment and abuse. These changes will give workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace will be dealt with, not hidden.

Finally, the Bill will establish the Fair work agency, to enforce labour rights and promote fairness in the workplace. This will be a single place where workers and employers can turn for help.

With regard specifically to the gender pay gap, we know that ensuring every employer harnesses the talent, creativity and brilliance of women in their workforce is a crucial part of achieving economic growth. That is why, as part of the Employment Rights Bill, we are additionally taking the first steps towards requiring employers to publish action plans detailing the evidence based steps they are taking to narrow their gender gap. In requiring employers to produce a plan, this will prompt them to better understand the drivers of their gap, and the experiences of women in their workforce, including young women.