Angela Rayner talks with unions as part of workers' rights overhaul

Angela Rayner will hold fresh talks with trade unions and business bosses today as she bids to push through Labour's controversial overhaul of workers' rights.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will stage the latest in a series of meetings over the Government's reforms.

They will discuss their plans this afternoon with general secretaries from Britain's major trade unions, as well as top figures from the Confederation of British Industry and Federation of Small Businesses.

The talks are set to focus on Labour's vow to end 'exploitative' zero-hours contracts, which is part of the Government's planned 'New Deal for Working People'.

Wide-ranging reforms are expected to be included in an Employment Rights Bill, to be introduced within the party's first 100 days in office.

But there are fears the package will hammer the economy with the Tories having blasted Labour's 'French-style' proposals.

The Government's plans also include giving staff a 'right to switch off' from bosses' messages outside working hours, banning 'fire and rehire' practices, and bolstering the power of trade unions. 

Amid a backlash from businesses, critics have warned against burdening firms with more red tape and stunting economic growth.

Ahead of the general election, Labour's manifesto committed to banning 'exploitative zero-hours contracts' as part of its wider 'Make Work Pay' agenda.

But the party also said it would consult businesses and unions on its plans before passing legislation, a process which began last month. 

Those attending today's meeting include TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, the general secretaries of the unions Unison, Usdaw, NASUWT and Community, CBI chief executive Rain Newton-Smith, and FSB policy and advocacy chair Tina McKenzie.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: 'This Government has set out an ambitious agenda to update workers' rights to fit the modern economy and make work pay.

'This includes ensuring those who want to work flexibly can, while ending one-sided flexibility and exploitative zero-hours contracts.

'We will work together with businesses to ensure workers have a contract that reflects the number of hours they regularly work while allowing them to remain on a zero hours contract if they decide this is what suits their needs.'

Around one million people in the UK are thought to be on zero-hours contracts, according to the Office for National Statistics, equivalent to 3.1 per cent of those in employment.

In August, a TUC survey suggested most workers on zero-hours contracts wanted to switch to regular hours.

Today's meeting is not expected to result in a major announcement.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Ms Rayner and Mr Reynolds are split over plans to hand workers full employment rights on their first day in the job.

The pair were reported to have clashed over the issue of probation periods for new staff.