The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has written to new business secretary Peter Kyle urging the government to accept amendments to the Employment Rights Bill that would make it more workable for local shops and other businesses.

In the letter, the ACS highlights the flexibility and security that convenience stores already provide to the 443,000 people that work in the convenience sector.

The amendments, proposed by the House of Lords, would define “short notice” for shift cancellations as less than 48 hours and would change a requirement to offer guaranteed hours into a right for employees to request guaranteed hours.

Figures from the 2025 ACS Colleague Survey showed that 96% of people working in the convenience sector have a permanent contract, with 53% contracted to work full-time hours. The survey also showed that 72% of staff have never had a shift cancelled.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the protections that the Employment Rights Bill provides workers, but the bill must also be pragmatic for convenience retailers running a business.

“There is widespread support in the business community for amendments put forward by the Lords that would ensure that the bill is both pro-worker and pro-business, and we encourage the business secretary to consider supporting them in parliament.”

Measures set to be introduced in the Employment Rights Bill include:

• Ending zero-hours contracts
• Giving greater protections against unfair dismissal from day one of...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxQOXczb0hKUVBSbEN2b2NDak8t...