Labour’s workers’ rights legislation has been caught in a parliamentary «ping pong» battle following a series of government defeats in the House of Lords. Peers have dealt blows to zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal claims from day one, industrial action ballot thresholds, and union members paying a political levy.
The flagship Employment Rights Bill, previously championed by Angela Rayner before her resignation as deputy prime minister, now returns to the Commons once again. While the bill is nearing completion, senior Tories and business leaders have launched a last-ditch effort to stop it in its tracks.
During the latest debate in the Lords, the government faced five significant defeats at the hands of Tory, Liberal Democrat, and crossbench peers. These defeats included:
– Peers voting by 302 votes to 159, a majority of 143, in support of an amendment on zero-hours contracts, opposing Labour’s proposal to mandate employers to provide guaranteed hours from day one.
– The opposition defeating, by 301 votes to 153, a majority of 148, the government’s plans to permit workers to take employers to a tribunal for unfair dismissal from day one in a new job.
– Labour suffering another defeat as peers demanded maintaining the 50% turnout threshold for an industrial action ballot of trade union members to be valid, with a vote of 267 to 153, a majority of 114.
– A proposal to automatically enroll new trade union members to pay a political levy was rejected by 249 votes to 142, a majority of 107, dealing another blow to the government.
Lib Dem Lord Fox, moving the zero-hours amendment, emphasized the importance of ensuring that both employers and employees are well-managed and have the opportunity to adapt. He stated, «We share ministers’ aims on making sure that every employee has the right to guaranteed hours moving from zero-hours, guaranteed hours.»
Conservative peer Baron Sharpe of Epsom expressed concerns about protecting workers from unfair dismissal from day one, suggesting that it may deter employers from taking risks on hiring young workers in the current labor market conditions.
Former TUC general secretary Baroness (Francis) O’Grady criticized the opposition from bosses to the bill, highlighting the need for protections for workers moving to new jobs to prevent arbitrary dismissals.
The battle over the Employment Rights Bill continues to unfold, with stakeholders on all sides making their voices heard in a complex and contentious debate. The fate of workers’ rights in the UK hangs in the balance as the legislation navigates the intricate parliamentary process.
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