The new Labour government has laid out plans to change employment law through an employment rights bill (ERB) and a draft equality (race and disability) bill.

While we wait for the details of draft legislation, this is what we know so far.

Employment rights bill (ERB)

Labour’s manifesto made clear that it would introduce wide-ranging legislation within 100 days of being elected. The explanatory notes that accompanied the ERB confirmed that the new government proposes the following policies across the UK:

• Creation of a new single enforcement body to strengthen the enforcement of workplace rights. The lack of adequate enforcement is widely acknowledged as a barrier to access to justice. For example, the Taylor Review reported as much back in July 2017. Employment tribunal claims often still take years before a final hearing, and a high proportion of successful awards go unpaid.

• Banning exploitative zero-hours contracts (ZHCs). Many practitioners will view this with particular interest, given the increased use of such employment contracts in recent years. The related topic of ‘employment status’ will also inevitably need consideration because of disputes over whether those employed under ZHCs are workers, employees or genuinely self-employed.

• Ending the practice of ‘fire and rehire’. This is another policy that will face scrutiny due to the current prevalence of dismissal and re-engagement by businesses seeking to force reorganisation in order to survive. A major...

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