WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols has welcomed ‘The biggest uplift to workers’ rights in a generation’ with the passing of the Employment Rights Act, hailing it as a win for Warrington’s workers.
The Labour Government’s Employment Rights Act was passed by Parliament on the 16th of December and received royal assent from the King on the 18th of December, marking a new phase in business-employee relations.
The Employment Rights Act is a cornerstone of the Government’s “Make Work Pay” agenda and is a core part of the Government’s mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities.
Following months of debate and scrutiny in the House of Lords, the Employment Rights Act has finally been delivered and will be transformational for working people across Warrington and beyond.
The Employment Rights Act is expected to come into effect in phases during 2026 and 2027 and signifies the greatest uplift in the rights of working people in a generation. The legislation introduces long overdue changes to employment practices including
• Ending exploitative zero hours contracts by introducing rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts, and payments for short-notice cancellation of shifts, with equivalent protections for agency workers.
• Banning unscrupulous ‘fire and rehire’ and ‘fire and replace’ practices by considering dismissals for failing to agree to a change in contract as automatically unfair, except where businesses genuinely have no alternative.
• Remove the two-year qualifying period of employment for the right to claim unfair dismissal, making it a day-one right, while enabling employers to ensure the employee is a good fit for the job by establishing a new statutory six-months probation period.
• Introduce new protections against dismissal for pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for a six-month period after they return to work.
• Motivate employers to improve gender equality by requiring relevant employers to produce action plans, setting out how they are addressing the gender pay gap issues and supporting employees going through the menopause.
Ms Nichols said “The employment rights act has been a mammoth task for me and my colleagues in Parliament. I am proud to say that after years of lobbying, months of debate and scrutiny and finally voting, our Labour Government has delivered the greatest uplift in the rights and protections of working people in a generation.”
“From strengthening protections for pregnant women, victims of sexual harassment and whistleblowers to banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, expanding sick pay for all workers and expanding parental and bereavement leave – this is a win for Warrington’s workers, and I’m proud to have fought alongside my colleagues to deliver it for my constituents”
Recent analysis from the Trades Union Congress shows the wider benefits of the Bill are £10.4 billion. This is significantly more than the costs, which have previously been estimated at between £0.9bn and £5bn.
The TUC says this is a giant leap forward for stronger workers‘ rights. There will now be a phase of consultations and secondary legislation required to enact key rights – the TUC says it is vital these rights are delivered in full and as quickly as possible.
