Liz Larkin, PDA Organiser, gave a presentation about the details of the Bill. This included proposals to extend the right to claim unfair dismissal, to improve family friendly rights, and to extend the duties of employers to protect employees from harassment.
The proposals would also impose greater duties on employers to improve equality for employees in the workplace, including reporting not only on the gender pay gap but also on ethnicity and disability pay gaps. Employers with over 250 employees will also be required to produce a mandatory equality action plan.
Another significant part of the Bill will overturn the measures in the Strikes Bill (Minimum Service Level) 1993, which the previous Government took through Parliament as an attempt to reduce the power of trade unions. The new Bill, if enacted, will revoke this Act and allow unions greater powers to access workplaces, which the PDA welcomes.
Further information on the Bill including information on proposals around zero hours contracts can be found on the Government’s website here. PDA Reps are encouraged to find out more, talk to their employers about this and put this as an item for discussion on their JNCC agenda.
Anne Davies, PDA NEC Rep for Wales and West Regional Committee said, “It was great to have an update on the new Employment Rights Bill and the proposed changes to strengthen employees’ rights at work. These include better protection against unfair dismissal from day one of employment and extended collective consultation obligations.”
Nav Bhogal, Chair of the PDA South East Regional Committee said, “The proposed protections in the Employment Rights Bill are a vital step toward stronger and fairer workplaces. The PDA’s networking event provided clear insights into these complex changes, and I’m confident the PDA Union will continue to champion their effective implementation for the benefit of every member.”
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Learn more
- PDA welcomes Employment Rights Bill
- Factsheet: Employment Rights Bill overview
- Employment Rights Bill
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