Employment Rights

Adam Jogee, the Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Justin Madders, what steps the Department is taking to strengthen employment rights. In response, Madders outlined several steps the government has already taken, including writing to the Low Pay Commission to end discriminatory age bands for the minimum wage, asking the Commission to consider the cost of living when setting future wage rates, and announcing the repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. Madders stated that the government will transform workers' rights in the country and introduce an employment rights bill within 100 days of taking office, as promised. Jogee followed up, thanking the Minister for the government's support for workers and asking him to remind the Secretary of State that a pint is waiting for him at a local pub in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Jogee then asked the Minister to set out what the new government is doing to end the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts in north Staffordshire and across the country. Madders agreed that the proliferation of zero-hours contracts in the country has been shameful, with over 1 million people now on such contracts, and many wanting more hours of work. He stated that the government will end the uncertainty of zero-hours contracts and ensure that work pays, by giving people a legal right to a contract that reflects the number of hours they regularly work over a 12-week period. The Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, Kevin Hollinrake, then intervened, welcoming the Secretary of State and Ministers to their places. Hollinrake stated that the Secretary of State seems to imply that businesses are comfortable with the changes he is making, such as day one employment rights, a four-day week, a right to switch off, and a higher and broader national living wage, as well as changes to business taxes. Hollinrake asked if the Ministers realize that until the details of these plans are brought forward, businesses' recruitment and investment plans are completely on hold, and when the plans will be brought forward. Madders responded by reminding Hollinrake that he is the Minister responding, not the Secretary of State. He also reminded Hollinrake that during the general election, 120 businesses supported the Labour party in full knowledge of their plans to make work pay. Madders stated that the government is consulting regularly and frequently with businesses about how the plans will work, and that Hollinrake has spent the summer putting out scaremongering statements about the plans. Hollinrake then read out statements from various business representative organizations, such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, expressing concerns about the government's measures. Hollinrake asked if the Minister and the Secretary of State would at least consider exempting small and medium-sized enterprises from these "ruinous, French-style regulations." Madders responded by reiterating that he is not the Secretary of State, and that the same arguments were made 20 years ago about the minimum wage, which the Conservatives were wrong about then, and are wrong about now. Madders stated that the country will prosper with improved workers' rights, working in partnership with businesses to improve the economy for the benefit of everyone.