The TUC has said the government will have “conned working people” if it fails to bring forward its long-awaited employment bill in today’s Queen’s Speech amid reports the legislation has been shelved.

Frances O’Grady said failing to announce an employment bill in the speech would be an “act of betrayal” and highlighted the government’s ongoing failure to deliver on its commitments to strengthen workers’ rights.

The TUC general secretary said: “This government was elected on a manifesto promise to make Britain the best place to work in the world. Anything less than an employment bill today would be an act of betrayal – the government will have conned working people.

“Without new legislation workers will be denied a host of vital rights and protections ministers had promised to deliver. These include fair notice for shifts and payment for cancelled shifts, flexible working rights and protection from pregnancy discrimination – plus many more.

“Enough is enough. More than one million are on zero-hour contracts, 3.6 million are in insecure work and the size of the gig economy workforce has almost tripled in the past five years. Ministers have no excuse for breaking their pledge to enhance workers’ rights.”

The TUC raised concerns about reports that the employment bill has been shelved, highlighting that the legislation was first announced “well over two years ago” in December 2019.

The government said that the employment bill would “build on existing employment law with...

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