Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Employment Rights

Thursday 5 September 2024 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister wrote to the Low Pay Commission to end discriminatory age bands for minimum wage rates.
  • Over one million people are on zero-hours contracts, with one in five wanting more hours.
  • Consultations with businesses are ongoing regarding plans to improve workers' rights.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
Employment
Context

The Labour party has taken steps to improve employment rights, including writing to the Low Pay Commission and announcing plans to repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen employment rights. I have written to the Low Pay Commission to ask it to end the discriminatory age bands so that all adults will be paid the same minimum wage rates and have asked it to look at including the cost of living when setting future wage rates. We also announced that we will repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, but there will be more.

Answer from Justin Madders

We have already taken a number of steps to improve employment rights in this country. We have written to the Low Pay Commission to ask it to end the discriminatory age bands, so that all adults will be paid the same minimum wage rates. We have also asked it to look at including the cost of living when setting future wage rates, and we announced that we will repeal the unconscionable and unworkable Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

Answered
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Q2 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
Employment
Context

Over 1 million people are now on zero-hours contracts, with one in five reporting that they would like to be able to get more hours of work.

Question

Can the Minister set out what this new Government are doing to end the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts in north Staffordshire and across our country? Over 1 million people are now on zero-hours contracts, and one in five of those people report that they would like to be able to get more hours of work.

Answer from Justin Madders

The explosion of zero-hours contracts in this country has been shameful. Over 1 million people are now on zero-hours contracts, and one in five of those people report that they would like to be able to get more hours of work. We will end the uncertainty of zero-hours contracts by making sure that work pays and giving those people a legal right to a contract that reflects the number of hours they regularly work over a 12-week period.

Answered
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Q3 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Employment Business & Trade
Context

The shadow Secretary of State met business representative organisations that are far from comfortable with the changes, such as day one employment rights, a four-day week, a right to switch off, and a higher national living wage.

Question

Does he not realise—do his Ministers not realise—that until he brings forward the detail on these plans, businesses' recruitment and investment plans are completely on hold? When will he bring forward those plans?

Answer from Justin Madders

I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his question. I remind him that during the general election, 120 businesses supported the Labour party in full knowledge of our plans to make work pay. We are consulting regularly and frequently with businesses about how the plans will work. The only statement he made over the summer on which I agreed was that his party deserved to lose the general election.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timeline for bringing forward the detail on these plans

How: Reminded Of Business Support

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Q4 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Employment Business Compliance
Context

The Federation of Small Businesses says its members view the measures with trepidation, while the Institute of Directors notes a drop in confidence.

Question

Will he—and the Secretary of State—at least consider exempting small and medium-sized enterprises from these ruinous, French-style regulations?

Answer from Justin Madders

We heard all these arguments 20 years ago with the minimum wage. Conservative Members were wrong about that, and they are wrong about this. I just hope they are a bit quicker to come round to realising that this country is going to prosper with improved workers' rights.

Not addressed: The consideration of exempting SMEs from the regulations

How: Historical Argument, Positive Future Outlook

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