UK 'Big Five' in stark warning over Employment Rights Bill

THE UK's top five business organisations have issued a stark warning that the government's flagship Employment Rights Bill could be "deeply damaging" to the country's growth prospects and may lead to a decline in living standards.

- ALI LYON

In an unprecedented move, the 'Big Five' of Britain's business groups have collectively penned a letter to every member of the House of Lords, calling for rigorous examination and amendments to five critical aspects of the Employment Rights Bill, which they believe will further erode confidence among British businesses.

The industry bodies jointly expressed their concern, stating: "Our collective position is that... the Bill will have deeply damaging implications for the government's priority growth mission as well as their admirable focus on tackling rising economic inactivity," and warned that the policies combined are "taken together, [the policies are] a recipe for damaging, not raising living standards."