The UK government is set to grant workers a range of rights, including day-one parental leave and zero-hours reform, through a flagship Labour bill.

• Under new legislation proposed by the Labour government, British employees will be entitled to paternity leave or unpaid parental leave starting from their first day on the job.
• The Employment Rights Bill includes measures to safeguard employees from unjust termination and establish a statutory probation period for new hires.
• Pregnant women and new mothers will gain stronger protections against dismissal, while workers will be allowed to take bereavement leave from day one.

The new Labour government in the UK has proposed legislation that will provide British employees with numerous employment benefits, including enhanced sick pay rights and the ability to take paternity leave from the first day on the job.

The Employment Rights Bill includes key measures such as protection against unfair dismissal from the start of a new role, a statutory probation period for all new hires, granting many workers on zero-hours contracts the right to a contract with guaranteed hours, and requiring companies to make flexible working the default, where possible.

Pregnant women and new mothers will have stronger protections against dismissal, and workers will be eligible to take unpaid parental or bereavement leave from day one of a job and claim statutory sick day from the first day when they are unwell, rather than the fourth.

The government announced plans to close the loopholes that enable "fire and rehire" and "bullying fire and replace" practices.

The Labour government, which took office in July, is set to introduce one of its first major pieces of legislation, the bill's details of which were published by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office on Thursday. The bill will be debated and approved in the U.K. parliament, with further consultation with businesses required. Starmer and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves are also preparing to deliver their first budget at the end of the month.

A 'step forward'

The end of "Minimum Service Levels" during strike action, as praised by Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, the U.K.'s largest union, is a "step forward."

Graham stated that the bill would not completely prohibit "fire and hire" practices and zero-hours contracts, which he believed "hostile employers" would still utilize.

Graham stated that the Bill does not provide workers with the right to form a union for pay negotiations, which would ultimately benefit them financially and contribute to economic growth.

The Federation of Small Businesses, a trade group, contended that employers would be left "scrabbling" to comprehend the alterations and would amplify the risks they assume on new employees, impeding hiring, expansion, and investment.

Small businesses are most likely to provide job opportunities to individuals who have been out of the workforce for an extended period, such as those recovering from long-term health issues or caring responsibilities. However, this legislation may discourage small employers from taking a risk on these individuals, thereby closing doors and exacerbating social exclusion, as Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the FSB, stated in a statement.