Bosses at Inverclyde Advice and Employment Rights Centre have welcomed a new Bill aimed at protecting and improving workers' rights.

Jim McCourt, manager of the service, which was established in Inverclyde almost 30 years ago, says the plans set out by the Labour government last week will improve the position of employees in the areas of unfair dismissal and 'firing and rehiring'.

He told the Telegraph: "The main point is that employees will, under the new provisions, be able to claim for unfair dismissal from day one of their employment instead of having to have been employed for two years to qualify.

"What is really interesting is the fire and re-hiring part of the Bill.

"Right now employers can say 'I'm taking £5,000 off your salary' and you say you can't afford that. Then they say 'I've got someone who would work for that starting on Monday'.

"Staff could claim unfair dismissal under the new proposals. 

"Or firms could hire someone for 13 weeks, then lay them off and take them back on with variations to their contract."

The Bill is going out for consultation and will not become law for some time, but Mr McCourt says that in the meantime, the best protection employees can have at work is to join a trade union.

"Some people have said 'I didn't think I could join a trade union'," he added. "We can help with that locally.

"There is going to be increased protection with this new bill, but I don't know what will end up in the Act."

Under Labour's proposals, company bosses will also be required to offer a zero-hours worker a guaranteed-hours contract based on the hours they clock up during a 12-week period, and staff being subject to a nine-moth probationary period.

The centre makes Inverclyde the only area in Scotland with a dedicated employments rights service.

It is run by staff and volunteers with a trade union background, under chairman Eddie Macdonald.

Mr Macdonald said: "I think it will benefit all employees."

The service, based in the Westburn Centre, helps around 400 people a year by offering advice and advocacy.

Mr McCourt said: "Employments rights are going to be so important as we go forward.

"If people are not happy at their work it has ramifications for their life, home life and mental health.

"We also advocate for people to go to hearings. We attend 60 or 70 hearings a year, disciplinaries and grievances.

"The key ethos of the project is about job retention."

If anyone needs advice they should call the office on 01475 888039.