Labour’s flagship legislation to bring in a new deal for working people came under fresh attack this week by unelected Liberal Democrat and Conservative politicians in the House of Lords. 

The Labour plan, which has been developed through engagement with business and the Trade Unions, is a manifesto commitment and a core part of the UK Labour Government’s mission-led priorities to grow the economy.  

The plan is designed to make work pay, help more people to stay in work, support workers’ productivity and improve living standards.  

The Employment Rights Bill will, once implemented, represent the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation 

In a shameful act of selfishness, ermine-clad Liberal Democrat and Conservative politicians voted to take away Labour’s proposals to protect working people and ban exploitative zero-hour contacts. 

Matthew Dorrance said:

“It’s always the same – Labour stands with and for working people while the Tories and Lib Dems work together to take the rights of working people away.

 

“Too many people are trapped in insecure work where bosses can cancel shifts at whim causing workers to lose wages. 

 

“There is a clear need to upgrade workers’ rights and the UK Government was elected last year with an overwhelming mandate to do that.

 

“These Tory and Lib Dem peers don’t care about workers. They want bad bosses to have complete control over workers’ pay and workers hours.”

 

Data from the Trade Union Congress shows that 72% of people support increased worker protections, like banning zero-hours contracts. 

Data shows that in Brecon Radnor and Cwm Tawe, 71% of people support a ban on zero-hours contracts by offering all workers a contract that reflects their normal hours of work and compensation for cancelled shifts. 

It also shows that 73% of people in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe support all workers having the right to sick pay, paid from the first day of sickness.