SCOTLAND’S top trade unionist has welcomed the UK Government’s new bill on workers’ rights but made clear that it must be the “beginning” of reform across the UK.
It comes as the Labour Government is set to introduce the Employment Rights Bill on Thursday, which will give workers access to parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal from day one of their employment.
The bill also looks to strengthen workers’ rights by banning exploitative zero-hours contracts and will give greater access to trade unions to organise within the workplace.
Flexible working will be made the default position “where practical”, while large employers will be required to create action plans on addressing any gender pay gaps.
In the run up to the General Election, the Labour Party pledged to introduce the bill within 100 days of being in government. Thursday marks 97 days since Labour came to power.
‘We’re still here – the Tories aren’t’
Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) – Scotland’s largest trade union body – previously warned against the Labour Government attempting to “water down” their pledge to reform workers’ rights.
Foyer (below) said: “The Employment Rights Bill has been hard fought for and hard won. This is the result of decades of campaigning from our movement despite the best attempts from the previous Tory government to undermine us. We’re still here. The Tories aren’t.
“It’s welcome that the Labour Government have stuck to their word and introduced these proposals within the first 100 days of government. But this cannot be the end – it is only the beginning.
“Banning zero-hours contracts and giving employment rights from day one will give workers the security and clarity they need to build a better life through work. Giving better access to trade unions to organise in the workplace is a strength of the bill which and helps our movement grow improve outcomes for workers.”
Foyer called on the UK Government to devolve employment law to the Scottish Parliament, to “ensure no worker in Scotland can ever be disadvantaged again by Tory attacks on our movement”.
She continued: “We can embed workers’ rights for generations to come and the Employment Rights Bill can be the catalyst that achieves just that.”
Meanwhile, Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) general secretary Mick Lynch (above) said Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said the bill was the most significant set of reforms in workers’ rights that “we’ve seen in decades”.
He added: “It is a far cry from the Tory government’s attempts to suppress the aspirations of working people.”
The bill is not expected to be implemented until at least Autumn 2026.
