House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Making Work Pay: Consultation Package
21 October 2024 · Department for Business and Trade
Proposed by Jonathan Reynolds Lab Co-op Stalybridge and Hyde
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- UK government launches a consultation package for the 'Make Work Pay' initiative
- Four key areas include zero hours contracts for agency workers, modernizing industrial relations, and improving statutory sick pay
- Consultations aim to strengthen remedies against fire and rehire practices and collective redundancy abuses
Issue summary
The UK government is launching a consultation package to implement its 'Make Work Pay' initiative, focusing on four key areas: zero hours contracts for agency workers, modernizing industrial relations, strengthening remedies against fire and rehire practices, and improving Statutory Sick Pay.
Action requested
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Work and Pensions Secretary, and I are launching four consultations covering zero hours contracts for agency workers, creating a modern framework for industrial relations, strengthening remedies against abuse of rules on collective redundancy and fire and rehire, and enhancing statutory sick pay. The Government will consider amendments to the Employment Rights Bill based on consultation outcomes.
Key facts
- The Employment Rights Bill aims to benefit over ten million workers.
- Consultations are open for 6 weeks each.
- In 2023, nearly 2.7 million working days were lost due to strikes in the UK; this was the most since 1989.
- The consultation includes measures to simplify union information requirements and update laws on repudiation and prior call.