The Liberal Democrats have returned to their alliance with the Conservative Party to shoot down Labour’s attempt at implementing greater employment rights, which would benefit over 6,000 workers on zero-hour contracts in Southwark.
Lib Dem and Tory Peers in the House of Lords joined forces to reject Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, which had been passed by elected Members of Parliament in the House of Commons.
Analysis from Southwark Labour found that up to 6,000 local workers could benefit from Labour’s ban of exploitative zero-hour contracts – alongside a raft of beneficiaries of measures designed to end unfair employment practices and help deliver economic growth.
The Government’s Employment Rights Bill is designed to ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one – like paternity and parental leave, and protection from unfair dismissal. It also introduces right to bereavement leave from day one.
In Southwark, Labour have prioritised working people, with over 7,000 workers having been lifted out of poverty pay to date through the Labour-run council’s London Living Wage campaign. Making work more secure was also central to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which was overwhelmingly supported by voters in last year’s landslide general election win.
Unelected Lib Dem and Tory Lords, however, voted down the Employment Rights Bill, including watering down requirements on ‘unfair dismissal’ rights, which would have given employees protections from day one of starting a new job. In response, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned Tory and Lib Dem Peers to “get out of the way” and “stop trying to block” stronger employment rights for millions of workers.
The changes made by the Lords to water down the Bill are expected to be rejected by Labour MPs in the House of Commons.
Reacting to the news, Cllr Sarah King, Leader of Southwark Labour, said: “Labour’s Employment Rights Bill showcases our commitment to improving standards at work and protections for employees. We should not be surprised to see the Lib Dems return to backing their coalition colleagues to reject workers’ rights.
Lib Dem and Tory Austerity hit the pockets of residents across our communities and now they are siding together once again to restrict workers’ rights.
In Southwark we want to see elected politicians in the House of Commons reject these changes by unelected Lib Dem and Tory Lords, delivering Labour’s commitment to boosting the rights of working people across our borough.”
Additional notes:
• The Mirror reported on the vote here: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-lib-dem-peers-accused-35626066.amp
• Law firm Farrer & Co have provided a summary of the proposed changes here: https://www.farrer.co.uk/news-and-insights/employment-rights-bill-surprise-amendments-from-the-house-of-lords/
• The government’s Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/roadmap-unveiled-to-boost-rights-for-half-of-all-uk-workers-and-provide-certainty-to-employers
• A video on the Bill from the Trade Union Congress can be found here: https://x.com/The_TUC/status/1945429637904875956
• A statement on the Lib Dem and Tory Lords’ rejection of the Bill from USDAW can be found here: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/latest-news/tories-and-lib-dems-vote-down-new-workers-rights/