House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Employment Update
11 May 2022 · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Proposed by Paul Scully Con Sutton and Cheam
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The Government intends to widen the ban on exclusivity clauses for workers earning below or equivalent to the Lower Earnings Limit of 123 a week.
- The proposed action aims to support low-income workers in increasing their income by extending the ban on exclusivity clauses.
- The new secondary legislation will be laid before Parliament following a consultation that began in December 2020.
Issue summary
The statement addresses the Government's intention to widen the ban on exclusivity clauses for workers earning below or equivalent to the Lower Earnings Limit (£123 a week) to support low-income workers in boosting their income.
Action requested
The Government is proposing to extend the ban on exclusivity clauses to contracts where the guaranteed weekly income is £123 or less. This will be delivered through new secondary legislation that will be laid before Parliament in due course, following a consultation launched in December 2020.
Key facts
- Exclusivity clauses restrict staff from working for multiple employers and were banned in zero hours contracts in 2015.
- An estimated 1.5 million workers earn on or below £123 a week, the Lower Earnings Limit.
- The Government will extend the ban to those earning below or equivalent to the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week.