As reported in previous issues, the Employment Rights Bill is the Government’s flagship Bill, proposing wide ranging changes to current employment laws, including implementing a ban on “exploitative zero-hours contracts”, ending fire and rehire practices and making some basic employment rights available to employees from day one.
The Bill has been working its way through Parliament and completed the Committee Stage in the House of Commons on 16 January 2025. Since November 2024, and over the course of 20 sittings, the Committee has scrutinised the draft Bill and considered more than 200 amendments.
The Government proposed most of the amendments and all Government amendments were approved by the Committee. Notably, amendments regarding the right to guaranteed hours for zero hours workers and low hours workers will take effect. However, the most significant and expected amendment is an increase the limitation period for employment tribunal claims to six months.
The Bill will progress to its Report Stage, where further amendments may be considered, and third reading. No dates have yet been set for those stages.
If you would like more information on the Employment Rights Bill, please contact a member of the Employment team – stevi.hoyle@glaisyers.com.
