Scots to receive biggest workers' rights boost in decades under Labour Government employment Bill

The UK Government's package will be consulted on until 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced the most sweeping changes in decades to boost pay and workers’ rights.

She confirmed a package that cracks down on zero hour contracts and gives millions of workers new protections from day one.

The rights will be policed by a Fair Work Agency welcomed by the trade unions.

The Employment Rights Bill builds on a manifesto promise for greater security for staff across the UK.

The proposals contain 28 major reforms following consultation with the unions and business groups.

Under the plan, millions of workers will qualify for protection against unfair dismissal from their first day of employment.

A new nine-month probationary period for workers is likely to be introduced, but it is understood this does not dilute the unfair dismissal right.

Other “day one rights” include paternity leave, unpaid parental leave and sickness pay.

Workers are currently entitled to sick pay from day four, but this will be changed to the first day.

On zero-hours contracts, more than one million staff will access guaranteed working hours if they want them.

Fire and rehire, which involves businesses sacking staff and re-employing them on poorer terms and conditions, will be banned apart from limited carve outs.

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Flexible working will be the default for most workplaces if the package is pushed through and employers will be required to establish a policy for bereavement leave.

A lengthy Government consultation on the plans will run until 2026 - the year of the Holyrood election.

Rayner said: "This government is delivering the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy. We’re turning the page on an economy riven with insecurity, ravaged by dire productivity and blighted by low pay.

"The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential.

"Too many people are drawn into a race to the bottom, denied the security they need to raise a family while businesses are unable to retain the workers they need to grow. We’re raising the floor on rights at work to deliver a stronger, fairer and brighter future of work for Britain."

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