The government has issued a press release containing details of how it intends to respond to the independent review into modern working practices, concluded last year by Matthew Taylor.
Whilst there is little in the way of legislative change proposed, consultations will be conducted in relation to the enforcement of Mr Taylor’s employment rights recommendations, protection of agency workers, measures to increase transparency in the labour market, and employment status.
The Government has outlined a few measures it intends to take including: –
- enforcing vulnerable workers’ holiday and sick pay for the first time;
- a list of “day one” rights including a right to a payslip for all workers, including casual and zero-hour workers; and
- a right for all workers, not just zero-hour and agency, to request a “more stable contract”, though there is no detail as to what this means.
The Government has also outlined plans to introduce a new naming scheme for employers who fail to pay employment tribunal awards and is seeking to further protect workers’ rights by quadrupling employment tribunal fines to £20,000 for employers showing malice, spite or gross oversight. It is also considering increasing penalties for employers who have previously lost similar cases.
There are a number of other measures mentioned although these appear to be more considerations or guidance, as opposed to planned legislative changes. These include asking the Low Pay Commission to consider the impact of higher minimum wage rates for workers on zero-hour contracts, making sure new and expectant mothers know their workplace rights and raising awareness amongst employers of their obligations.
The Government’s full response to the Taylor review can be found here.
