TUC hails “historic day” for working people as Employment Rights Bill passes Lords

The TUC has today (Tuesday) hailed an “historic day” for working people as the government’s flagship workers’ rights Bill has finally broken its House of Lords deadlock after months of wrangling in parliament.

The legislation will introduce long overdue changes like a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts, day one sick pay and better protection from harassment - among a range of other measures.

Conservative Peers – who have been blocking the legislation for weeks – have finally stepped aside. It will now quickly receive Royal Assent and become law. 

This means that millions will benefit from day one sick pay for all from April 2026. If the Bill had been delayed beyond Christmas, the whole timetable would have been pushed back and workers would have missed out on the first tranche of rights coming into force in April.

Long overdue

The Employment Rights Bill will bring the UK closer to the European mainstream. The UK has been an outlier on workers’ rights with insecure work rife in every corner of the country. 

One in nine of the workforce are currently stuck in insecure work, and one million are on zero-hours contracts. 

The TUC says this huge upgrade in workers' rights is not just good for workers, but good for the economy too - more money in the pockets of workers means more spending in our local shops and high streets.

Recent TUC analysis shows the wider benefits of the Bill are £10.4 billion. This is significantly more than the costs, which have previously been estimated at between £0.9bn and £5bn.

The TUC says this is a giant leap forward for stronger workers' rights. There will now be a phase of consultations and secondary legislation required to enact key rights – the TUC says it is vital these rights are delivered in full and as quickly as possible.

Commenting on the Employment Rights Bill passing the Lords, completing its parliamentary passage and paving the way for it to become law, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: 

“This is an historic day and early Christmas present for working people across the country, and the trade unions who represent them. 

“Banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, sick pay for all, expanding parental and bereavement leave, strengthening protections for pregnant women, whistleblowers and victims of sexual harassment, repealing Tory anti-union laws, ensuring union access to workplaces, establishing a social care fair pay agreement – these are just some of the watershed measures this Bill will now deliver. 

“Unions and workers have long campaigned for these vital rights. Together, we have broken a decades long economic status quo defined by insecurity, weak rights and poor pay.   

“Finally, working people will enjoy more security, better pay and dignity at work thanks to this Bill. 

“It’s now vital that workers start feeling the benefits of this legislation in their lives as soon as possible. That means the legislation must be implemented in full, and at speed – with watertight secondary legislation to ensure there are no loopholes for bad bosses to exploit.”

ENDS