Queen’s Speech: Government Accused of ‘rowing back’ on Workers’ Rights

05/11/2021

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BBC News

Employers’ groups and trade unions have expressed concern at the lack of an Employment Bill in the Queen’s Speech.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously promised such a bill amid fears that workers’ rights could be watered down after the UK left the EU.

But Downing Street blamed the coronavirus pandemic for the delay.

The TUC said the government had “rowed back” on its pledge, while the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) said the bill was “long overdue”.

REC chief executive Neil Carberry said he was “surprised by the lack of a specific Employment Bill in the government’s legislative programme”.

“It was due to contain a number of measures to extend and protect workers’ rights, and create a Single Enforcement Body to tackle abuses in the labour market – and could also have provided further guidance on flexible working and the regulation of umbrella companies,” he said.

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