If projections are to be believed “Labour” will win the General Election on 4th July 2024.
If they honour their Manifesto there are some big changes to employment law on the way.
Employers need to start thinking about what to do if the following Labour promises come true:
- Ban exploitative zero hours contracts, ending fire and rehire practices
- Introduce basic rights from day one of employment; including parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal
- Remove the discriminatory age bands currently within the minimum wage regulations
- Enact the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010.
- Introduce a disability and ethnicity pay gap reporting duty for large employers
- Strengthen rights to equal pay and protections from maternity & menopause discrimination and sexual harassment
- Reform the points-based immigration system with appropriate restrictions on visas but linking immigration and workplace skills policy.
- Not tolerate employers or recruitment agencies abusing the visa system or breaching employment law. Employers who flout the rules will be barred from hiring workers from abroad.
- End the reliance on overseas workers in some parts of the economy by bringing in workforce and training plans in sectors such as health/social care and construction.
- Create a Single Enforcement Body to ensure employment rights are upheld.