British workers are set to experience improved working conditions as the Government begins implementing its Plan to Make Work Pay.
On 14 August 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Business Secretary held an unprecedented meeting with trade unions and business leaders. The meeting marked a fresh start, with both sides agreeing to build a new relationship based on mutual respect and collaboration, all aimed at advancing the Government’s primary goal of kickstarting economic growth.
The discussions focused on the Employment Rights Bill and the broader Plan to Make Work Pay, with input from both the Deputy Prime Minister and the Business Secretary.
This initiative follows the recent decision by the Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary to revise the Low Pay Commission’s mandate. The aim is to make swift progress on the Make Work Pay plan, ensuring that working people see more money in their pockets.
The Employment Rights Bill, crucial to delivering the Plan to Make Work Pay, is set to be introduced within the first 100 days of the Government’s term.
As part of this plan, the Government has committed to:
- End the practice of fire and rehire.
- Guarantee basic rights from day one, including parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal.
- Strengthen workers’ collective voice, particularly through their trade unions, and establish a Single Enforcement Body to ensure employment rights are upheld.
- Ensure the minimum wage is a true living wage by adjusting the Low Pay Commission’s remit to consider the cost of living.
- Eliminate age-based wage discrimination, so all adults receive the same minimum wage, resulting in a pay increase for hundreds of thousands of workers across the UK.