Addressing the committee, Joanne Cairns – Usdaw head of research and policy said: “Across the whole economy precarious employment is a major issue, there is clearly a need for policy intervention in the labour market. One in eight workers are in precarious employment and that has risen by one million since 2011. Living standards have fallen quite significantly and the impact on our members is significant.
“In respect of the right to guaranteed hours, which we very warmly welcome, its very important that the way that it’s implemented covers as wide a number of workers as possible. The commitment from the Government was that everyone would have the right to a contract that reflects the number of hours they normally work. So we are concerned at the inclusion of provisions around ‘low hours’, which could potentially undermine the effectiveness of this part of the Bill.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “Today we welcome the opportunity to give evidence on this historic legislation that will help bring to an end years of low-paid, insecure employment, which failed our economy, businesses and working people. The Employment Rights Bill will help secure economic growth by improving productivity after years of stagnation and stop rogue employers undercutting those who treat their staff properly, while giving workers security, respect and the decency of an income they can live on.
“Usdaw has long campaigned for a new deal for workers, and the Employment Rights Bill delivers on that. The Bill also builds on the action already taken by Labour in Government to significantly increase minimum wage rates from next April, with the Low Pay Commission for the first time required to take into account the cost of living and make progress towards ending rip-off youth rates.
“We will continue to engage with the Government as the Bill progresses, to make sure it delivers the much-needed change that our members and all workers need.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
Employment Rights Bill: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3737
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on BlueSky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion