The government has announced a new workers’ rights watchdog but there is no employment bill to put it in

The government has today re-announced the formation of a single watchdog to look after workers’ rights.

This new body was first announced in 2018 and has been re-announced since then. It is also to be included in an employment bill but the government did not include an employment bill in this year’s Queen’s Speech.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, responded:

“A single enforcement body for workers’ rights is a good idea if properly resourced, which is why Prospect welcomed this announcement when the government first made it in 2018.

“The government now needs to end the delay and bring forward the Employment Bill which was promised but which was absent from the Queen’s Speech. The Bill should include this commitment and wider protection to support flexible working.

“The world of work is changing fast and we need to ensure workers’ right and enforcement keep pace with those changes.”