Employment Rights Bill clears last parliamentary hurdle

"But he withdrew the amendment after a short debate, removing the final block on the bill's passage. Business Secretary Peter Kyle he was "delighted" the bill had made its way through the House of Lords. "This landmark legislation, now soon to be in law, will drag Britain's outdated employment laws into the 21st century and offer dignity and respect to millions more in the workplace," he said."

"The government has described the bill - which applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland - as the "biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation". It will give workers access to sick pay and paternity leave from the first day on the job and contains new protections for pregnant women and new mothers. In November, Labour backed down from its plan to give all workers the right to claim unfair dismissal from their first day in a job."

The Employment Rights Bill has passed its last parliamentary hurdle after a Conservative amendment was withdrawn, and it is expected to gain royal assent soon. The legislation applies to England, Scotland and Wales but not Northern Ireland. The bill grants workers access to sick pay and paternity leave from the first day of employment and introduces new protections for pregnant women and new mothers. Labour retreated from an initial plan to allow unfair dismissal claims from day one, instead implementing enhanced protections from six months. Most measures require secondary legislation before coming into force, and unions urge timely, undiluted implementation.

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