UK plans new rules to make remote work the default
The UK plans to introduce significant reforms which will make the country a more desirable place to work, says Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders.
Speaking at the International Labour Conference in Geneva on Wednesday 11 June, Madders said a strong package of workers’ rights and protections for people at work go hand in hand with a strong economy, giving people more certainty over the hours they are working and what their wages will be, so they can have more confidence to spend on our high streets and in small businesses.
He added that the planned Employment Rights Bill will help the UK catch up with more productive economies such as France and Germany, where stronger employment rights have gone hand-in-hand with economic success.
“After years of playing catch-up with our closest neighbours, our Plan for Change will see tens of millions of workers across the UK finally get the boost in living standards and protections that their hard work deserves,” he said.
“Whether it be day one protections against unfair dismissal, the right to guaranteed hours or making flexible working the default, the Employment Rights Bill is putting money straight back into the pockets of working people.”
“We want to make the UK the world’s best place to work, and delivering real change for workers will help solve the UK’s productivity puzzle and get our economy growing once again.”
During the conference, Madders also held discussions with ministers from a wide variety of countries to gain insights into how they have grappled with complex issues facing labour markets, including how to implement employment rights reforms that support and balance the needs of workers and businesses.
The flagship Employment Rights Bill is expected to provide the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation, banning unfair practices like exploitative zero-hours contracts to deliver more security for working people, whilst also providing day one protections against unfair treatment and unscrupulous fire and rehire tactics as well as extending rights to sick pay.
The Bill seeks to build on the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act passed in April 2024 by the previous government. This extended provisions around applying for flexible working arrangements and included secondary legislation to make these a ‘day one’ request right for all employees.
If the Bill is enacted, employment tribunals will be able to consider whether it was reasonable for an employer to decide to reject a request. This is intended to encourage careful consideration of requests and enhance access to flexible working.
The government says nearly 75% of the UK public backs policies in the Employment Rights Bill.
