The Government plans to show its commitment to delivering its workers’ rights Bill when it returns to the Commons on Monday amid fears it could be weakened.
The Employment Rights Bill, which is in its final parliamentary stages, will bring in parental leave from the first day of employment and strengthen statutory sick pay.
The Government will overturn amendments tabled by the Lords that would water down the day-one protection from unfair dismissal and limit those able to benefit from the planned ban on exploitative zero hours contracts, the Department of Business and Trade said.
Sir Keir Starmer said the Bill would “make a real difference to people’s lives”, while Business Secretary Peter Kyle said businesses had been consulted “every step of the way”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had reassured Labour MPs last week that the Bill would continue to progress with the same substance as before, said it was a “core part” of the party’s agenda.
He said: “This Government is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.
“Our Employment Rights Bill is good for workers, good for businesses and good for the economy.
“It’s a core part of our agenda to make people better off and will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said boosting workers’ rights would have a positive effect on the economy.
He said: “Giving workers more security in the workplace is good for the economy. It promotes prosperity, enabling people to be more active consumers and exercise more control over their lives.
“Businesses have been consulted every step of the way and will continue to be.
“We are focused on building an economy with a new social partnership – workers, businesses and government fixing the foundations and that starts with security at work.”
Trade unions had warned that it would be a “huge mistake” for the government to water down its Employment Rights Bill following Angela Rayner’s departure.
Unison’s general secretary, Christina McAnea, who represents more than a million workers in relatively low paid jobs, said she feared the government was no longer committed to delivering the bill in full.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “It doesn't send out a very good message that the people who were absolutely committed to driving through the employment rights bill are no longer doing those jobs.
"No names are coming forward that really fill me with confidence that the party is still committed and the government is still committed to taking this through."
TUC general secretary Paul Novak added: “My message to the government is, stay on course, deliver the employment rights bill, and deliver it in full.”
He said the Employment Rights Bill "will give a massive boost to rights for millions of working people in this country, lots of whom are in insecure, low-paid employment".
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