Women's Organizations Urge Government to Protect Employment Rights Bill from Amendments

A coalition of seven leading organizations advocating for women's rights has issued a stern warning to the government regarding the risk of allowing amendments from the House of Lords to dilute the Employment Rights Bill. In an open letter addressed to the new business secretary, Peter Kyle, these groups, including the Women’s Budget Group and the Fawcett Society, express their alarm that any changes could obstruct crucial measures aimed at enhancing women's living conditions and reducing the gender pay gap.

Their concerns follow amendments suggested by the House of Lords, which proposed alterations such as introducing a six-month qualification period for unfair dismissals and changing the nature of guaranteed hours contracts from an automatic right to merely a right to request. These amendments have prompted a wave of anxiety among campaign groups and union leaders, particularly since key proponents of the bill, Angela Rayner and Justin Madders, have stepped down from their roles during its parliamentary journey.

As the Commons prepares to deliberate on these amendments, the letter from the women's organizations notes that any delay or weakening of the bill would undermine progress toward gender equality and contradict the government's commitments to workers. They advocate for immediate action to address issues like exploitative zero-hour contracts and last-minute shift cancellations, which disproportionately affect women economically. The letter highlights alarming statistics, such as the fact that women are significantly more likely than men to be on zero-hour contracts, and that a large majority of those lacking access to statutory sick pay are women.

Dr. Sara Reis from the Women’s Budget Group underscores that women make up a significant portion of low-paid and insecure workers who stand to gain the most from the Employment Rights Bill. This legislation is framed as a vital opportunity to address the gender pay gap and elevate living standards for vulnerable workers. Furthermore, Paul Nowak of the Trades Union Congress echoed these sentiments, urging the government to remain steadfast against efforts to weaken the bill.

Government officials, including Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, have reiterated their commitment to passing the Employment Rights Bill in full, dismissing suggestions that it may be undermined by the House of Lords. The spokesperson for the government emphasized the bill’s potential to represent the biggest advancement in workers' rights in a generation, aiming to eliminate exploitative employment practices and enhance rights surrounding parental and flexible working arrangements.