The government has reportedly postponed plans to make flexible work an automatic right to employment, a promise dating back three years. In its 2019 election manifesto, the Conservative Party promised to “encourage flexible work and consult to make the default unless employers have a good reason not to do so”. The commitment was expected to be included in the long-awaited employment bill and to be announced during the queen’s speech in May, but has since been scrapped. Asked if the bill was likely to be included in the statement, a government official told the Financial Times: “No. “We can not find space for everything we want to do in a season, we can not do everything we want to do right away.” Calls for the employment bill rose three years ago after anger over working conditions and wages in factories and warehouses across the country. Combined with the emerging practice of “fire and re-employment”, as well as fears of a reduction in workers ‘rights after Brexit, Boris Johnson promised to renew workers’ rights in December 2019. It’s the second change of government in just two days after the destruction of “conversion therapies” (Image: Zuma) In addition to the right to flexible work, the bill provided for more predictable contracts, protection for pregnant employees and a single body to enforce workers’ rights. All employees – not just parents and carers – have the right to request flexible employment if they have worked for the same employers for 26 weeks at present. Labor said it would be an “excellent” move for the government to back down on the proposals, especially in the wake of the P&O Ferries scandal. The sentiment was echoed by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which said it represented a “workers’ betrayal.” The government seems to have mocked the workers. BorisJohnson promised to introduce an employment bill to strengthen workers’ rights. But now he seems to have made it back to that commitment. After everything that happened after P&O, this is a shame! Https: //t.co/AeHxFltmTO – Frances O’Grady (@FrancesOGrady) April 1, 2022 “What happened to P&O should have marked a turning point in workers’ rights. “But by abandoning the employment bill, the government is sending a message that it is happy for fraudulent employers to treat staff like dirt,” said Secretary-General François O’Grady. A government spokesman did not deny that the bill would be withdrawn from the Queen’s speech, but said ministers had pledged to “ensure that workers’ rights are vigorously protected while promoting a dynamic and flexible labor market”. The postponement follows the controversial reversal of plans to ban conversion therapy after the government tacitly decided to cancel the proposal. The move was strongly criticized, forcing Downing Street to move forward with legislation that would outlaw the practice. Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected] For more stories like this, check out our news page.
