Chris Backs Historic Employment Rights Bill

Chris Backs Historic Employment Rights Bill

This week in Parliament, Chris voted for the Employment Rights Bill, a groundbreaking piece of legislation which will bring the most significant overhaul of employment rights in a generation. The bill, now written into law, strengthens workers’ rights by preventing unfair dismissal, enhancing sick pay, banning exploitative zero-hour contracts, and putting an end to the controversial ‘fire and rehire’ practices.

Strengthening Sick Pay Protections

One of the landmark changes within the bill is the reform of Statutory Sick Pay, making it a legal right for all workers. This means that 1.3 million low-wage employees will now be entitled to either 80% of their average weekly earnings or the current Statutory Sick Pay rate—whichever is higher. Crucially, the reform removes the waiting period, ensuring sick pay is available from day one of illness. This measure not only provides much-needed financial security to workers but also helps curb the spread of illness in workplaces, ultimately boosting productivity and benefiting businesses across the country.

Ending Exploitative Zero-Hour Contracts

The bill also delivers a long-overdue victory for workers trapped in exploitative zero-hour contracts. Under the new law, all workers—including 900,000 agency workers in the UK—will be entitled to contracts that reflect their regular working hours. This ensures greater job security by granting reasonable notice of shifts and fair compensation when shifts are cancelled or changed at short notice. While the law maintains flexibility for businesses, it ensures workers are no longer left uncertain about their incomes.

Cracking Down on ‘Fire and Rehire’ Tactics

Another major reform in the bill is the crackdown on ‘fire and rehire’ practices. The government is doubling the maximum protective award for collective redundancies from 90 to 180 days, allowing employment tribunals to issue larger compensation awards when employers fail to meet consultation requirements. This change creates a powerful deterrent, ensuring that businesses uphold their obligations rather than opting for financially motivated redundancies that exploit workers.

These reforms have been widely welcomed by the people of Stirling and Strathallan. Last month, an MRP mega poll conducted by Hope Not Hate revealed that:

• 71% supported an end to exploitative zero-hour contracts and demanded contracts that reflect actual working hours.

• 76% backed stronger sick pay protections, including the right to sick pay from the first day of illness.

Commenting on the bill, Chris emphasised the importance of securing fairer conditions for working people: “For far too long, working people have been underpaid and undervalued. I am delighted that these reforms are now being written into law to ensure the biggest change to employment rights in a generation. Labour is delivering for working people.”

With the Employment Rights Bill now set in law, these changes mark a historic step toward a fairer, more secure working environment for millions across the UK. This bill underscores a firm commitment by the Labour Government to protecting workers in Stirling and Strathallan.