Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Employment

06 December 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Steven Bonnar SNP Glasgow Cathcart

Employment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Steven Bonnar raised concerns about employment in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The motion aims to introduce a Bill to improve employment rights, including more predictable work terms and conditions.
  • The speaker criticises the UK Government for not advancing an employment Bill, affecting workers' rights during and after the pandemic.
  • Issues discussed include fire and rehire practices, restrictive right-to-strike conditions, and in-work poverty rates.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Steven Bonnar SNP Glasgow Cathcart

The motion seeks to introduce a Bill that aims to improve employment rights, including the right to request more predictable terms and conditions of work. It highlights the inadequacies in current legislative rulings on the workplace, pointing out that hundreds of thousands of people have few of the basic rights that Parliament has legislated for employees. The speaker also criticises the UK Government's repeated shelving of an employment Bill and its impact on workers' rights during and after the pandemic. He further discusses issues like fire and rehire practices, restrictive right-to-strike conditions, in-work poverty rates, and the need for better protections against unfair contracts.

Other contributors (1)
  • Steven Bonnar SNP Glasgow Cathcart

    Stresses that fairness, compassion, and equality should be measured by Governments based on how they serve working people. He argues that the Conservative Government has not prioritised workers' rights, despite repeated commitments to an employment Bill. Points out the significant gap in pay between men and women, noting that women face “double trouble” due to the cost of living crisis and lower wages compared to men. Criticises employers for using flexible contractual terms to exploit workers with zero-hours contracts or on-demand-only requirements. Advocates for banning fire and rehire practices and strengthening protections against unfair contracts. Emphasises the importance of fair work principles, such as a real living wage and increased statutory sick pay. Concludes by stressing that protecting workers' rights is not a priority for the current UK Government.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy