[IER] Bill to abolish insecure work gains cross-party support but govt rejects it

Fri Sep 10 18:03:41 BST 2021

News brief - 10/09/21                                                                            <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=09e2b72db3> View this email in your browser 

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Bill to abolish insecure work gains cross-party support but govt rejects it

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The  <https://www.ier.org.uk/statusofworkers/> Status of Workers Bill, introduced to the House of Lords by IER Chair Lord John Hendy QC, had its Second Reading today where it enjoyed cross-party support.

Among the speakers who got behind the Bill were several Conservartive Party members, former Green Party leader Baronness Bennett, a number of Labour Party peers and crossbenchers that even included a former editor of the Sunday Telegraph.

Despite appealing to such a wide audience across the political spectrum, the government still did not agree with the Bill's proposals, which are to give all people in work access to the same employment rights.

During the debate, peers highlighted the mounting issues faced by insecure workers, with Labour's Lord Bassam of Brighton pointing to the increasing number of people in work being forced to rely on food banks. Meanwhile, Baronness Bennett reported meeting couriers on the picket line who had not had a nominal pay rise in 15 years.

Lord Davies of Brixton, also for Labour, noted that insecure workers lose out throughout their working lives and then again in retirement as they are exempt from important pension rights.

An  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/govt-rejects-opportunity-to-raise-social-care-funds-by-strengthening-employment-law/> interesting contribution was made by The Lord Bishop of St Albans who pointed to the £7.8bn the Treasury is estimated to lose every year due to employers avoiding National Insurance Contributions by miscategorising their workers as 'self-employed'. This money could go towards rescuing the social care sector - he suggested - referring to the 1.25% uplift on National Insurance Contributions the government is making workers pay for instead!

After receiving almost unanimous support from across the House, the Status of Workers Bill has now been passed to Committee Stage, where it will be scrutinised in detail before returning for debate. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/IER.AdvertisingSheet.V7.Feb21.pdf> 

Everything you need to know about the Status of Workers Bill

Visit our Status of Workers Bill project page for more details on what the Bill proposes, a free briefing, a free quiz to test your knowledge of insecure work, and a short history of the proposal for a single status of 'worker'.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/statusofworkers/> Read more 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/IER.AdvertisingSheet.V7.Feb21.pdf> 

Low-cost advertising with the IER

The IER is proud to launch a programme of low-cost advertising to trade unions and the organisations that wish to reach them as a means of supporting our charitable aims.

For just £50, you can have your image in our newsletter, with a link to your website, campaign, event or service, and a coloured box of text - just like this - all about you.

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Bill to abolish insecure work gains cross-party support; passes into Committee stage

The Status of Workers Bill was supported by Crossbench, Conservative, Green and Labour Party peers in the House of Lords today.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/press-releases/bill-to-abolish-insecure-work-gains-cross-party-support-passes-into-committee-stage/> Read full story 

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Govt rejects opportunity to raise social care funds by strengthening employment law

Despite cross-party support, the government does not accept the proposals made in Lord John Hendy QC's Status of Workers Bill.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/govt-rejects-opportunity-to-raise-social-care-funds-by-strengthening-employment-law/> Read full story 

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12th September 2021 – 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

FREE 

Join us at this free online meeting on this year's TUC fringe.

On this year's platform is another panel of the labour movement's leading voices. General Secretary of the UCU, Dr Jo Grady, will be joined by Unison's General Secretary, Christina McAnea. to speak about the challenges and opportunity's their members - and the UK's workforce as a whole - are currently facing.

Meanwhile, two members of the panel with Private Members' Bills going through Parliament will discuss how they hope they can make change through legislation. 

Barry Gardiner MP has drafted a Bill to end the practice of Fire and Rehire, while Lord John Hendy QC (IER Chair) is author of the Status of Workers Bill, which will create a single employment status to ensure that all people in employment are eligible for equal workers' rights.

They will be joined by our Director, Carolyn Jones; and President, Professor Keith Ewing. 

Speakers

Dr Jo Grady, UCU

Prof Keith Ewing, IER

Lord John Hendy QC, IER

Christina McAnea, UNISON

Barry Gardiner, MP

Chair: Carolyn Jones, IER Director

 <https://www.morrishsolicitors.com/> ***This event has been kindly sponsored by Morrish Solicitors***

 <https://www.morrishsolicitors.com/> 

 <https://tinyurl.com/IERTUC2021> Book your place 

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How will work change in the future and how do we mobilise workers to win a new deal? Join our panel of trade unionists at Congress 2021.

SPEAKERS

Dave Ward - general secretary CWU

Sarah Woolley - general secretary BFAWU

Lord John Hendy QC - chair Institute of Employment Rights

Roger McKenzie - general secretary Liberation

Claudia Webbe MP

Ben Chacko - editor Morning Star

CHAIR: Bob Oram, Morning Star Management Committee

 <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future-of-work-mobilising-for-a-new-deal-tickets-168740055047> Book your place 

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21st October 2021 – 10:00 am - 1:35 pm 

Our most popular annual event returns. To ensure everyone is as safe as possible, we’ve decided that this year we will host our update as a Zoom webinar.

Every year, the Institute of Employment Rights brings together lawyers, academics and campaigners to update delegates on the cases and legislation that have had the most significant impact on workers’ rights over the past 12 months.

This year, the Coronavirus pandemic and building back better is inevitably the focus of the UK’s changing workplace, and our annual update reflects this.

SPEAKERS

Rebecca Tuck QC, Old Square chambers – Employment law update overview 2021.

Jo Seery, Thompsons Solicitors – Coronavirus and the workplace.

Rohan Pirani, Regional Employment Judge and CAC Duty Chair – Tribunals and courts: practice & procedures.

Paul Scholey, Morrish Solicitors – Cases from the plague year.

Professor Keith Ewing, IER – Changes in statute during pandemic and the shifting landscape of workplace rights.

Chaired by Carolyn Jones, Director of the IER

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2021/> Book your place 

IER and Covid-19

Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease and the need to keep our staff, supporters and speakers safe, IER is holding all events online until further notice.

IER staff will continue to work, but remotely from home. We will answer emails, produce publications and circulate our weekly News Briefs and other on-line information. However, phone calls to the office or mail sent by post will not receive immediate attention.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and wish you all best wishes during this difficult time.

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