Don't dilute workers rights bill, warn women's groups

The government has been warned against allowing amendments from the Lords to water down its flagship Employment Rights Bill, with seven leading women's organisations arguing that this would hamper efforts to tackle gender inequality.

- MILLIE COOKE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

In a joint letter to the new business secretary, Peter Kyle, seen by The Independent, the Women's Budget Group, the Fawcett Society, Young Women's Trust, Rights of Women, Women's Resource Centre, Pregnant Then Screwed, and Maternity Action have warned that the measures included in the bill are “crucial to improving women's material living conditions and to reducing the gender pay gap”.

The letter is in response to a number of amendments made to the legislation in the House of Lords before the summer recess, including proposals to introduce a six-month qualifying period for unfair dismissal and to make the right to a guaranteed hours contract a right to request, rather than a right to be offered.

The Employment Rights Bill, which is in its final parliamentary stages, was championed by the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and former employment rights minister Justin Madders. Both have left the posts they were in when the legislation was taken through the Commons, which has raised concerns among campaign groups and unions.

As the Commons gears up to consider Lords amendments on Monday, the collection of women's organisations has warned that “any delay or dilution would undermine both gender equality and the government's promise to working people”. saying the legislation is a “once-in-a-generation chance to help close the gender pay gap”.