Employment

Contact: Patrick Brodie

Employment

Employment Rights Bill: Government amendments published

The Employment Rights Bill, which was first introduced in the House of Commons on 10 October 2024, is currently awaiting report stage in the Commons. A total of 264 amendments were tabled to the Bill by the public bill committee. 149 amendments were agreed to by the committee. The key amendments include:

increasing the employment tribunal limitation period from three months to six months
requiring employers to ensure that zero hour and low hour workers are aware of their rights to guaranteed hours during an 'initial information period’
devolving the making of regulations and codes of practice on public sector outsourcing to Scotland and Wales
requiring trade unions to have a certificate of independence to benefit from the rights to access the workplace conferred under the Bill
creating a power for the government to introduce a new, legally binding, seafarers’ charter.

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Government to increase National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage from April

Starting from 1 April, the government will increase both the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW). The NLW for those aged 21 and over will rise by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour. Meanwhile, the NMW for 18-20-year-olds will increase by £1.40 to £10.00 per hour, which is a record increase. As a result, full-time eligible workers in this age group will see an annual pay boost of £2,500. According to the government's impact assessment, "these reforms will put approximately £1.8 billion into the pockets of workers over the next six years". These changes form part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which seeks to "improve living standards and make working people better off".

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The Work Couch: What's on the horizon for employment law in 2025?

RPC's latest podcast from The Work Couch looks ahead to 2025, exploring the employment law changes on the horizon as well as what you can be doing to prepare. Listen to hear more about the strengthened trade union rights proposed by the Employment Rights Bill.

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