LONDON: Britain’s new Labor government on Thursday took a key step towards delivering major reforms to workers’ rights with the presentation of its employment bill to parliament, pitting unions against businesses. The bill contains key pre-election pledges, including a ban on zero-hours contracts, improvements to sick and maternity pay, and measures aimed at making it harder for employers to sack staff. Other proposals are for increased flexibility around working hours and greater protection against sexual harassment in the workplace. The proposed shakeup to employment legislation comes almost 100 days after Keir Starmer became prime minister following his Labor party’s landslide general election win.

‘Generational upgrade’

“This is a comprehensive bill which, once implemented, will represent the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation,” Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said in a statement Thursday.

“It will raise the minimum floor of employment rights, raise living standards across the country and provide better support for those businesses who are engaged in good practices.”

Since winning power in early July, Labor has acted swiftly to end drawn-out strikes by public- and private-sector workers over pay — notably among doctors in Britain’s free National Health Service. “The Employment Rights Bill will ensure work pays, it’ll forge a new partnership with business, and reset the dreadful industrial relations that have cost our economy and our NHS so much in recent years,” Starmer told parliament Wednesday. Paul Nowak, leader of British umbrella organization the Trades Union Congress, said a fully delivered bill “will make work better for millions of working people”.

“Increasing job security is good for workers and business. Treating staff well boosts productivity and living standards,” he said on the eve of the paper’s unveiling. But the main opposition Conservatives have warned the proposals amount to business-constricting “French-style union laws”. Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, warned that “adding to the risks and costs associated with employing people would make small employers think twice about whether and who to hire”. “Done wrongly, this bill could damage growth, wages and jobs,” added McKenzie, whose organization represents millions of UK businesses. — AFP

However business lobby group CBI said the “government deserves credit for its willingness to engage with businesses and unions”. “With a number of critical details still subject to consultation, it’s important the government builds on the good engagement to date to ensure we get the detail right on this decisive piece of legislation,” added its chief executive Rain Newton-Smith. The bill’s publication comes ahead of Labor’s maiden budget on October 30, when finance minister Rachel Reeves is widely expected to announce tax rises. Labor says tough measures are needed and claims that the Conservatives left it with a financial hole totaling £22 billion ($29 billion) after the election defeat ended their party’s 14 years in power. — AFP