Zero-hour agency workers to get paid if shift changed at short notice
The BBC learned that agent workers who choose a zero-hour contract are eligible for compensation if their shifts are cancelled or changed within a short period of time.
There are about one million agents in the UK working in warehouses, hotels and the NHS.
The policy is part of an increase of approximately 250 to the Employment Rights Act, which will outline, although the amendment to the compensation will not clarify the meaning of the “short notice.”
The new rules under the bill also mean that contracts must be provided for agent workers to ensure at least the number of hours per week per week.
While unions welcome the inclusion of agent workers in the ban, the Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC), which represents the industry, said the change should not “destroy” the “flexibility” that zero-hour contracts provide for certain workers.
The Labor government pledged last year to ban “exploitative zero-hour contracts” as part of the Bill of Rights for Employment.
The minimum time provided to agent workers in the contract will be calculated based on the average number of hours they normally work.
The BBC has learned that the government has not decided that this is based on a 12-week reference period or longer.
Trade unions have been running for agency workers to be included in the legislation changes to prevent employers from surrounding the proposed zero-hour rule by hiring agent staff.
Paul Novak, secretary general of the Trade Union Assembly, said the government is correct to shut down the “loophole”.
He said agent staff “produced a large part of the workforce that is zero and also needed to protect bad work practices.”
But Rec said that was worried about the change.
Its deputy CEO Kate Shoemaker said people choose to act on behalf of “to provide the flexibility and flexibility of the stages they can in their lives” and the new regulations cannot undermine that.
She added that time should be given “to ensure that any legislative changes do not conflict with existing and victorious agent protections”.
The REC will “continue to work with the government to ensure that.”
Other amendments are expected to include fines imposed on companies engaged in the so-called “fire and rehire” practice.
This means that if they fail to consult employees correctly before firing and then rehire them on less favorable terms, they may be forced to pay workers a 180-day salary, starting from the current 90-day fine.
The amendments also promise to expand sick leave pay to workers who earn £123 a week starting on the first day of their illness.
They will have the right 80% of its average weekly income Or the statutory sick wage – currently £116.75 per week – whichever is the minimum.
Currently, to receive a statutory sick pay, a worker must get sick for three consecutive days.
Rules regarding unions’ recognition and the ability of unions to take industrial action will also change.
The government advises workers must issue a 10-day warning to employers to warn of any strike lawsuits rather than the existing 14-day notice.
Currently, if 10% of the workforce is a member of the union, a vote that is recognized by the alliance can be conducted.
The government has been consulting to reduce it to 2%, but the proposed amendment will not state a number and will only give the secretary of state the power to lower the threshold by 10%.
Mr Novak said the changes are about “creating a modern economy that works for both workers and businesses” and raising the bar will prevent good employers from being weakened by bad people, which means more workers benefit from the voice of unions”.
Several business groups are critical of the government because they do not provide more detailed information on how legislation works in practice.
They are unlikely to be satisfied with what is in the amendment.
Martin McTague, president of the Small Business Federation, said most trade association members were “very concerned” about the Bill of Rights.
He told the BBC’s Plan Today program.
Mr McTague added that the key issue with the bill is the government’s failure to help small businesses fund patients’ salaries and changes in the rights to day one firing.
“We are not weeping wolf, we say that these have a real destructive impact, and if the government wants the economy to grow, they need small businesses.”
