UK Announces Several New Employment Policies
UK Announces Several New Employment Policies
The Facts
The UK's Labor government has unvailed its new Employment Rights Bill, including employee protections surrounding wages, firing and rehiring policies, paid leave, and cost of living.The UK's Labor government has unveiled its new Employment Rights Bill, including day-one-of-employment protections surrounding wages, firing and rehiring policies, paid leave, and cost of living.
If implemented, which could take two years, the law would protect 9M workers from unfair firing; add 30K fathers or partners to paid parental leave and 1.5M to unpaid leave; and weekly sick pay of £116.75 ($153) for up to 28 weeks for those making at least £123 a week.
The Spin
This bill is a tremendous attempt at protecting workers while also keeping businesses afloat. While the Labour Party is rightfully seeking to end exploitative contracts and unfair termination, it's also being pragmatic by allowing a consultation period to play out before enforcing wage- and hour-related policies. Any employment law must take into account both workers and small businesses.
Starmer's Labour government has no idea how its policy proposals would impact real-world business owners. In the middle of his economic summit this week, Transportation Secretary Louise Haigh was caught berating a ferry company, resulting in the company pulling out of a billion-dollar investmen deal. Bullying businesses for disagreeing with labor contract laws will not make the economy stronger.