Amendments made to the bill during the committee stage were read in the House of Commons on 4 March, with the bill now set head to the report stage before its final reading.
This follows a series of consultations held with employers and unions in recent weeks, as the government seeks to iron out the final details.
In its current form, the bill will provide workers with day-one rights against unfair dismissal and guarantee anyone employed on a zero hours basis the right to a new contract, while an additional 30,000 parents will gain new rights to paternity leave.
Further amendments can still be proposed during the report stage and then again once the bill ascends to the House of Lords.
‘Workers’ rights taken seriously'
Unite welcomed proposals in the areas of recognition rights, industrial action, e-balloting and workplace ballots and the statutory creation of equality reps, but has also called for an outright ban on fire and rehire practices and stronger measures to ensure that trade unions have a right of access to workplaces to organise workers.
Commenting on the bill, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said that “in many areas” the government has listened to the union’s calls for a fairer environment for workers.
“For decades workers' rights have been pushed down the agenda [and] this is the first time in a generation that workers' rights have been taken seriously,” Graham added.
She also reinforced Unite’s calls for additional protections: “The government will come to realise that not introducing an outright ban on fire and rehire is a mistake. The new rules will continue to allow the most unscrupulous firms to use this disgraceful practice. Fire and rehire should be banned outright – no ifs or buts.
“Unions are an integral part of ensuring more money goes into workers' pockets. This in turn boosts economic growth. It is vital that unions are able to represent all workers who want to be in a union. Access is an important first step.”
Elsewhere, GMB general secretary Gary Smith described the bill as a “massive step forward”, while being “far from perfect”.
“If this legislation had been in place, GMB members at Amazon Coventry may well have won their fight to make their voice heard, tens of thousands of care workers would not have had to risk going to work with covid and schools wouldn’t be left with crippling support staff vacancies – because they would finally be paid a proper wage,” Smith added.
“Vested interests for bad employers have opposed every gain workers have made, from the minimum wage to equal pay for women.
“More will be needed to ensure the Bill delivers the change that the country voted for, but today represents a pivotal moment.”
Both Unite and GMB represent workers across the food and drink sector.
