For too long, people at work in our country have faced low pay and inadequate protections, made worse by 14 years of Tory government.

During the election campaign, Labour promised to introduce the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and this week we delivered on that promise.

On Thursday we introduced the new Employment Rights Bill in Parliament. This is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will improve living standards, create jobs, increase investment, and most importantly improve the lives of working people. This is the type of change and positive action that the Labour Government promised to deliver. 

There are many measures in the Bill which will improve the lives of people at work. Exploitative zero-hour contracts and unfair fire and rehire practices will be banned. Workers will have the right to a guaranteed hours contract if they work regular hours over a defined period, which will give them increased security and stability of earnings.

The Bill will also remove the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal. These changes mean an end to the one-sided flexibility in the workplace that skewed benefits towards employers and away from workers.

The Bill also provides the rights to certain benefits from day one of employment; ending qualifying periods that disadvantaged so many people. Establishing rights to bereavement and parental leave from day one are key reforms that I welcome. Statutory sick pay will also be improved, removing the lower earning limit for all workers, and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in.

There are also measures to help make the workplace more compatible with people’s way of life. Flexible working will be made the default where practical, and larger employers will also have to create action plans on addressing gender pay gaps, supporting employees through the menopause and protecting pregnant women and new mothers from dismissal.

These measures are all in an effort to retain workers and reduce recruitment costs to employers.

The Employment Rights Bill repeals the anti-union legislation introduced by the previous Conservative administration, including the Minimum Service Levels Act that did not manage to prevent a single day of industrial action whilst in use.

This Act detrimentally affected businesses and the livelihoods of many and was one of the worst periods of industrial relations since the 1980s. This wreaked havoc on the public finances with industrial action in the NHS alone costing the taxpayer £1.7 billion last year.

Working with businesses and trade unions, we have found the right balance to ensure a plan that works for employees and businesses.

To ensure the enforcement of these new measures a new Fair Work Agency which brings together current enforcement bodies will also be established. The important point I want to raise about this organisation is that the Fair Work Agency will become the single recognisable and reputable national body that people can turn to for help and advice about work related issues. Likewise, my office is always available to discuss any concerns or queries you may have.

Labour’s plan to Make Work Pay doesn’t just give working people the security they deserve. Delivery of the Plan to Make Work Pay will be approached in phases. Alongside the publication of this Bill was a Next Steps document that outlines reforms it will look to implement in the future.

There are ongoing consultations on a right to switch off, preventing employees from being contacted out of hours, reviews into the parental leave and carers leave systems, as well as a strong commitment to end pay discrimination.

Together, these changes represent one of the most significant upgrades to workers’ rights in years, improving the lives of working people but also strengthening UK workplaces to make us better able to increase economic growth. The Labour Party has always championed workers’ rights (the clue is in the name – Labour!) and this Government will be no exception.

Meeting with the Chancellor

At the beginning of the week I was invited to Number Eleven by the Chancellor ahead of the Budget on October 30.

The Budget this year will be challenging, due to the £22 billion black hole left by the previous Government, but I am also hoping it will be ambitious and will put the country in the best possible position for the future.

I was so pleased to be able to discuss with her issues raised by the people of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West that I have met and listened to over the last few months at my surgeries.

It is so important to me that our area has a voice at the heart of Government, so again if you have any issues please do get in touch with me and my office by emailing martin.mccluskey.mp@parliament.uk.