It states that for the Employment Rights Bill to work for young women and their employers, the Government’s spending review, due in June, must increase funding for enforcement of workplace rights. The letter has been co-signed by a wide range of trade unions and women’s equality campaign organisations.
Young Women’s Trust’s latest research clearly shows the alarming rate at which workers of all genders in insecure work are subjected to illegal workplace practices:
- 51% had worked more hours than contracted/agreed to.
- 46% had been paid late or inconsistently.
- 44% had worked free trial shift(s).
- 44% had less than 24-hours notice of shift cancellations – this went up to 61% for less than a week’s notice.
- 42% had been paid cash in hand.
- 35% had been paid less than minimum wage.
The open letter to the Chancellor reads: “Millions of workers in insecure work are facing low pay and unpredictable earnings, whilst discrimination in these workplaces is rife. Some groups are particularly exposed to this. Young women are more likely to be in insecure work than young men, because they’re more likely to work in the industries that use it. According to trust’s report, 24% of young women are working in hospitality compared to 12% of young men and 13% in health and social care compared to 8% of young men. They’re paid less than young men within insecure work. They’re feeling trapped, unsafe and their mental health is on the floor.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to strengthen workers’ rights with better enforcement via the Fair Work Agency as outlined in the Employment Rights Bill, as well as their sponsorship of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has an essential role in enforcing new equalities provisions in the Bill. Neither organisation can do this without more resources. The Bill itself provides an opportunity to create a more equal world of work and can’t come soon enough. However, it’s imperative it is accompanied by the resources to properly promote and enforce these new rights.
“Young Women’s Trust’s latest research shows that even the rights workers currently have are regularly being flouted. The enforcement system is under-resourced and hard to navigate. This leaves workers powerless to tackle unfair, unsafe and illegal behaviour. Young women are particularly affected by this, with evidence showing they’re less likely to challenge their employer or report discrimination. This situation is allowing rogue employers to undercut those who want to do the right thing. This is not only bad for workers, it’s bad for businesses: those who comply with the law are being penalised by lack of adequate enforcement.
“With the much-needed new rights coming in, enforcement bodies need the funding and powers to ensure they happen in reality. We are asking you to include robust funding plans for the Fair Work Agency and the Equality and Human Rights Commission as part of your spending review on 11th June 2025. These bodies need significant resources if they are to stop bad employers exploiting young workers and breaching the law.
“Your commitment to closing the gender pay gap is achievable and the Employment Rights Bill includes important steps towards this. But for the Bill to have its desired effect, it must be underpinned by a properly funded enforcement system. The Spending Review in June is the key opportunity to address this.”
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
Young Women’s Trust: www.youngwomenstrust.org
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