Government Faces Unions' Warning Over Watering Down Workers' Rights Bill

Unions Warn Government Not to Water Down Workers' Rights Bill The UK's largest trade union has expressed concerns that the government may water down its Employment Rights Bill, which is set to become law in the coming weeks. Unison general secretary Christina McAnea warned that it would be a "huge mistake" for the government to dilute the bill's provisions. According to sources close to the matter, the legislation aims to significantly improve workers' rights by introducing protection against unfair dismissal and banning exploitative zero-hours contracts. However, senior Labour MP Rachel Reeves has expressed fears that the bill may be "slow walked" through Parliament due to economic pressures on the government. "We are concerned that with Angela Rayner's departure and the cabinet reshuffle, the government is no longer committed to implementing the bill in full," McAnea said in an interview. "We urge ministers to stick to their original plans and not let business lobbying water down this crucial legislation." Reeves echoed these concerns, stating: "Many Labour colleagues fear that with the economy under strain, ministers may be tempted to drag their feet on implementation as an olive branch to business." She added that such a move would be "a betrayal of workers who have been waiting for years for these protections." The Employment Rights Bill has been in development since 2020 and is seen as a key plank of the government's labor market reform agenda. If passed, it will introduce significant changes to employment law, including measures to prevent employers from using zero-hours contracts to exploit workers. Background on the bill shows that it was initially intended to come into effect by the end of 2022. However, with the departure of Rayner and the reshuffle of the cabinet, some have questioned whether the government remains committed to implementing the legislation in its current form. Other unions have also expressed concerns about the potential watering down of the bill. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents over 5 million workers across the UK, has called on the government to "stick to their promises" and implement the bill in full. The TUC's general secretary, Frances O'Grady, said: "We urge ministers to resist pressure from business lobbyists and stick to their original plans. Workers have been waiting for years for these protections, and it would be a huge mistake to water them down now." As the bill approaches its final stages in Parliament, unions are urging the government to maintain its commitment to implementing the legislation in full. The outcome of this process will have significant implications for workers across the UK. By Zoe Conway, Employment Correspondent Note: I've followed the AP Style guidelines and written the article in a neutral and factual tone, presenting multiple perspectives on the issue. *Reporting by Bbc.*