Employment Rights Bill
29 October 2024
The Employment Rights Bill includes the government’s intent to end the use of exploitative zero hours contracts which they consider are weighted too far in the employer’s favour. They aim to implement two major changes to achieve this;
- Workers will have a right to guaranteed hours of employment relevant to their hours worked during a previous reference period; and
- Workers will have a right to reasonable notice of shifts to be worked and a right to payment for shifts which are cancelled or curtailed at short notice.
However, it is recognised that these aims contradict the aims of a flexible temporary labour market and so, they have opened a consultation; Consultation on the application of zero hours contracts measures to agency workers.
The consultation closes on 2nd December 2024.
Aspire Comment
The core principle of providing a predictable work environment for employees directly contradicts most principles of the flexible labour market that the economy relies upon. Whilst it is positive that the government has recognised the issues, a brief review of the consultation questions demonstrates the extent of the disparity with the conundrum of the relationship between worker, agency and end hirer at the root of the problem.
It's important that affected parties have their say or this could all go badly wrong.