Deeply worrying that the government is seeking to water down employment law

Prospect union have responded to the announcement by Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, of proposed changes to employment law.

Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary said:

“It is deeply worrying that the government is seeking to water down employment law, even as it backs down on some aspects of the Retained EU Law Bill.

“All previous mentions of red tape and deregulation around workplace rules has led to real attacks on the rights of workers.

“Both Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) and the Working Time Directive provide important safeguards for working people.

“Ministers constantly promise that they want to protect workers rights, but time and again we see them come under attack.”

Prospect believes the Bill should be scrapped entirely. If the Bill is passed it will still mean the power to retain legislation would rest with ministers and devolved authorities, without allowing for proper scrutiny by Parliament or requiring public consultation to inform decisions. 

It still also contains the provision to remove the binding nature of earlier case law, which has clarified and extended rights. 

If the Government considers there are unnecessary pieces of EU-derived law that should be removed, they should  use the existing EU Withdrawal Act 2018, undertaking proper consultation and subjecting any changes to full Parliamentary approval.