Backlash as workers’ rights left out of Queen’s Speechon May 10, 2022 at 12:40 pm

The omission from the Queen’s Speech of measures to improve workers’ rights has triggered anger from unions.

Flexible working rights, protections against pregnancy discrimination, and rights for staff to keep all tips had been hoped for in an Employment Bill.

Plans for the bill were first announced by the government in 2019.

TUC head Frances O’Grady accused the government of “turning its back” on workers, adding that it would see “bad bosses celebrating”.

“No Employment Bill means vital rights that ministers had promised – like default flexible working, fair tips and protection from pregnancy discrimination – risk being ditched for good,” she said.

“And it means no action on the scourge of insecure work and ending exploitative practices like zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire.

“But by shelving the Employment Bill, ministers have sent a signal that they are happy for rogue employers to ride roughshod over workers’ rights.”

A planned Employment Bill was first announced in the Queen’s Speech in December 2019

There had been concerns that workers’ rights could be watered down after the UK left the EU, and worries about treatment of employees in the gig economy had also led to calls for reform.

When first announced, the bill had promised:

The BBC has contacted the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) but is yet to receive comment.

Ros Bragg, director of maternity rights charity Maternity Action, said she was “deeply disappointed and frustrated” that the Employment Bill did not feature in the Queen’s Speech.

She said pregnant women and new mothers needed “urgent legal protections from unfair redundancies”, which she said had “dramatically increased” since the coronavirus pandemic.

She called on ministers to adopt the bill put forward by former cabinet minister Maria Miller, who has proposed legalisation to prevent firms from sacking women during pregnancy or six months afterwards.

“We’d also urge strengthening legal protections for insecure workers – who are predominantly women, and who are currently bearing the brunt of the poverty crisis,” Ms Bragg added.

“Ministers have promised women stronger legal protection, and they now need to urgently deliver on that promise.”

Elsewhere, Neil Carberry, chief executive of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, said it was “incredibly disappointing” the government had “chosen to kick the Employment Bill into the long grass again”.

“It is now two and a half years since the Employment Bill was first promised, and five years since the Taylor review into modern working practices – the government must prove its commitment to this issue and bring forward this bill as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Ben Willmott, head of policy for the CIPD, which represents HR professionals, said the omission of the bill left the government with “very little time to meet its promises to protect and enhance workers’ rights”.

Mr Willmott added it was a “missed opportunity” to protect workers rights, particular those in lower paid jobs dealing with rising household costs.

“The recent sacking of workers, without notice, by P&O Ferries shows that much more needs to be done to ensure unscrupulous employers cannot ignore their legal responsibilities and undercut employment standards in the UK,” he said

“It will also be hugely disappointing for working carers that there is no progress on legislating to give them new rights to take time off to manage their caring responsibilities.”