Major employment reforms promised by Labour will not become law for at least two years, as the government seeks compromise between unions and businesses on measures intended to strengthen workers rights without hindering economic growth. The Employment Rights Bill, introduced into parliament on Thursday, includes 28 measures, many of which will be subject to extended consultation, while more than 30 other pledges have no clear timetable for delivery.
Workers on zero or short-hours contracts will have to be offered a contract based on the hours worked in a 12 week reference period, receive notice of shift patterns and entitlement to payment for short-notice cancellation Among the measures excluded from the Bill is the introduction of a single category of worker, a measure long-promised by Labour and seen by unions as crucial to ending exploitation and inequality in the gig economy.