Ruth welcomes Employment Rights Bill passing into law

Ruth Cadbury MP has welcomed the Government’s landmark Employment Rights Bill passing into law.

This newly passed legislation introduces key new measures to bring workers’ rights into the 21st century, including ending exploitative zero-hours contracts; establishing day-one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave; strengthening statutory sick pay; and establishing a new Fair Work Agency.

This government’s new measures mean that sick pay and paternity leave changes are set to be introduced by April 2026, with additional protections, including for Britain’s lowest-paid workers, being introduced in line with the Government’s delivery timetable.

Through constructive conversations between trade unions and business representatives, this law will also introduce a qualifying period for unfair dismissal, reduced from 24 months to 6 months (whilst maintaining existing day one protection against discrimination and automatically unfair grounds for dismissal) to ensure employees are given more security at work, whilst businesses are given more time to prepare for these changes.

Speaking in full about this legislation Ruth Cadbury MP said,

“I’m delighted to have voted for this new legislation which delivers the biggest upgrades to workers’ rights for a generation. For too long many workers locally have had to rely on work that is poorly paid, with insecure hours and a lack of basic rights.

''During the pandemic we saw this firsthand with many workers locally facing the threat of being fired and then rehired under worse conditions.

“These laws will strengthen certainty for businesses in my constituency too, benefitting those brilliant businesses already treating their workers’ right.  It will also help increase the UKs low productivity compared to other countries in Europe.”