Business groups urge Parliament to pass employment rights bill.


Leading business groups have called on Parliament to pass the government’s flagship employment rights bill ahead of the Christmas shutdown, it emerged on Monday.

Source: Sharecast

In a joint letter, six groups - including the Confederation of British Industry and Federation of Small Businesses - wrote to business secretary Peter Kyle. They argued that despite having ongoing concerns about some aspects of the proposed legislation - one of the government’s flagship manifesto pledges - "now is the time for Parliament to pass the bill".

They wrote: "We believe that the best way forward is to keep working with the government and trade unions to find balanced solutions through secondary legislation.

"To avoid losing the six months qualifying period, we therefore believe that now is the time for Parliament to pass the bill.

"Businesses still have concerns about several other powers in the bill, but we are confident that workable agreements can be found in due course under a tripartite model."

Following talks between business groups, unions and government, last month plans to give workers the right to claim unfair dismissal after one day in a job were dropped. However, the government continues to suffer defeats in the House of Lords. Most recently, its plans to scrap compensation caps for unfair dismissal were rejected by peers.

The business groups - which also included the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, Recruitment and Employment Confederation, British Chambers of Commerce and Small Business Britain - had argued that the cash caps should be retained but increased.

Replying to the letter, Kyle said: "The strategic compromises made by both sides of industry demonstrate that, with a spirit of consensus and cooperation, we can build a brand-new framework for industrial relations in our country.

"Your call for Parliament to now pass the…bill is absolutely right."

Parliament shuts for the Christmas break on Thursday.

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