Employment Rights Act passing is a “landmark day for millions of workers”

Commenting on the Employment Rights Act becoming law (Thursday), TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“This is a landmark day for millions of workers.

“The Employment Rights Act represents the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.

“It will deliver common sense changes like banning exploitative zero hours contracts, protecting workers from harassment and sick pay for all – and so much more. These are hard-won rights that the union movement and workers have long campaigned for.

“For too long, we have lagged behind our European counterparts on workers’ rights. This legislation takes us closer to the mainstream.

“We are finally closing the door on the broken status quo defined by insecurity, poor pay and weak rights.

“It’s now vital the government finishes the job – ensuring workers feel the benefits of all these new protections as soon as possible. That means watertight secondary legislation, which delivers new rights fully and quickly.”