Business Secretary Peter Kyle has defended the Employment Rights Bill as a "landmark" piece of legislation while urging MPs to reject proposed changes from the House of Lords. Kyle, who is now leading the bill through the Commons following Angela Rayner's resignation, told parliament the legislation represents a "major step forward" in modernising worker protections.
The Government maintains the bill will deliver improvements to zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal procedures and sick pay access. Kyle emphasised the legislation remains both "pro-worker and pro-business" and supports government objectives to boost economic growth and improve living standards across the country.
Kyle accused Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers of joining forces to undermine the proposed legislation. He told MPs: "I'm asking the House to renew its commitment to this legislation, asking honourable members to endorse the Government's amendments which seek to clarify, strengthen a number of measures."
Government accepts key amendments
The Government has accepted certain amendments including expanded bereavement leave entitlements and stronger restrictions on non-disclosure agreements. Under the revised legislation, employees will gain the right to bereavement leave from their first day of employment.
A House of Lords amendment extends this protection to include mothers who lose babies before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Kyle drew on his personal experience of losing both his partner and mother within days of each other in 2012.
"Bereavement is not an illness or a holiday, and it needs its own special category," he told MPs. "No-one who is going through the heartache of pregnancy loss should be worrying about work. They must be able to take time to recover."
NDAs restricted for harassment cases
The Government has also committed to ending the use of non-disclosure agreements for victims of sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying. Kyle said the changes will "allow workers to speak freely about their experiences" while maintaining NDAs to "protect legitimate business interests."
He added that the new provisions will allow those who have witnessed misconduct to "call it out by avoiding NDAs which have been used to try and silence victims."
Opposition warns of employment barriers
Conservative shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith argued the bill could increase youth unemployment by discouraging employers from hiring inexperienced workers. He warned that removing probation periods would "kill social mobility" by making employers reluctant to take chances on unproven candidates.
Griffith specifically highlighted concerns for young people, those with conditions like dyslexia, and individuals with employment gaps including former prisoners seeking second chances. "What's going to happen is that businesses will be discouraged from hiring anybody without a perfect CV, anyone without a proven track record of work," he said.
The bill includes provisions giving workers the right to take employers to tribunals from day one of employment, which Conservatives argue will make businesses less likely to hire vulnerable job seekers.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
