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Articles by Patrick Brione
Employment Rights Bill 2024-25: Lords stages and amendments
The Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 completed its passage through the Commons on 12 March 2025. For details of the bill as introduced and it’s Commons committee stage, see the Library briefing on the bill as introduced and the Library briefing produced ahead of Commons report stage. The bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 14 March 2025 and received its second reading on 27 March 2025. It passed without division.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25: progress of the bill
Bill stages The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was introduced into the Commons on 17 December 2024. It had its second reading on 8 January 2025 and completed it Commons committee stage 11 February 2025. At the time of writing, a date for the bill’s report stage and third reading had not been set. This briefing provides an overview of the progress of the bill through the House of Commons prior to report stage.
Employment Rights Bill 2024-25: Progress of the bill
The Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 was introduced in the House of Commons on 10 October 2024 and received its second reading on 21 October 2024. It is bill 11 of the 2024-25 parliamentary session. It is listed for report stage in the Commons on 11 March 2025. Most of the bill applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland where employment law is devolved.
E-petition: Require employers to offer career breaks for parents with a seriously ill child
A debate on an e-petition proposal to require employers to offer career breaks for parents with a seriously ill child will take place in Westminster Hall on 3 February 2025 at 4.30pm. This was the subject of e-petition 638449. The subject of this debate was decided by the Petitions Committee and Robbie Moore MP (Con) will open the debate. Background There is no current right specifically for parents with seriously ill children entitling them to career breaks.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25 was introduced on 17 December 2024. It is bill 151 of the 2024-25 parliamentary session. The bill is listed for second reading on 8 January 2025. The government intends the bill to improve the safeguarding of children (such as in care institutions and schools) and to raise educational standards. This briefing does not provide an exhaustive guide to every clause of the bill.
Pay gaps in the workplace
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee and Dawn Butler MP will open the debate. Relevant legislation The Equality Act 2010 prohibits both direct and indirect sex discrimination at work across Great Britain, as well as requiring equal pay for equal work between men and women. For more details on equal pay law, see the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) guidance Equal pay and the law.
Employment support for blind and partially sighted people
The debate will focus on the findings of the APPG on Eye Health and Visual Impairments. The report, ‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives‘ looked at employer attitudes to visually impaired people as well as support within the workplace. ‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives’ report The report highlights the practical barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people when looking for work and progression in the workforce.
Zero-hours contracts
A zero-hours contract is a type of employment contract where workers have no guaranteed hours and agree to be potentially available for work. They are favoured by companies seeking labour flexibility and by workers seeking flexibility around their other commitments. Opinion on zero-hours contracts has been mixed.
What employment laws are changing from April 2024?
Several changes to employment law take effect from 6 April 2024. These changes come from several pieces of legislation passed in the last two years, mostly Private Members’ Bills which have passed with Government support and related secondary legislation. All these changes apply to England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland where employment law is devolved.
Coronavirus: Long covid
Background Some people who are infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, experience symptoms after the acute stage of the illness has passed. Long covid is a term used to describe ongoing symptoms of Covid-19, or new symptoms that develop after a Covid-19 infection. People with long covid can experience a wide range of symptoms affecting different parts of the body. Research exploring the causes of the condition and potential treatment options is ongoing.
Trade unions and industrial relations
This briefing describes the rules and regulations that govern trade unions and industrial relations in Great Britain, including the rights of union members, collective bargaining and industrial action. Most trade union law for Great Britain is contained in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA 1992), which consolidated a large amount of prior trade union legislation dating from the 1870s up to the 1980s.
How will minimum service regulations affect passenger rail?
The Regulations setting minimum service levels (MSLs) during rail strikes are now in effect. This Insight explains why and how these Regulations are being made and how they will operate. Where do the minimum service levels come from?
Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill - Lords Stages and Amendments
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill 2022-23, Bill 28 of the 2022-23 session, was introduced on 15 June 2022 by Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse as a Private Member’s Bill, presented to Parliament through the ballot procedure. The Bill passed all Commons stages without opposition, though with Government amendments made to Clause 1 on report stage.
Whistleblowing and gagging clauses
Whistleblowing law The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 came into force on 2 July 1999. The Act protects workers who disclose information about malpractice at their workplace, or former workplace, provided certain conditions are met. The conditions concern the nature of the information disclosed and the person to whom it is disclosed. If these conditions are met, the Act protects the worker from suffering detriment or dismissal due to having made the disclosure.
Artificial intelligence and employment law
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term which can encompass a wide variety of technologies, many of which are increasingly used in workplace management. The use of these technologies, while offering much potential, has also proved controversial and raised some important legal questions. Algorithmic management refers to the use of AI or other algorithmic tools by employers to manage workers.
The cost of living and statutory parental pay: e-petition 617155
Rising cost of living The cost of living increased sharply across the UK during 2021 and 2022. The annual rate of inflation reached 11.1% in October 2022, a 41-year high, before easing in subsequent months. It was 8.7% in April 2023.
Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Lords stages and amendments
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill 2022-23 completed its Commons stages on 30 January 2023. The Bill passed second reading in the Lords on 21 February 2023 and committee stage on 9 March 2023. The Bill passed third reading on 9 May 2023 and was returned to the Commons with amendments. For information on the Bill itself, including background, original content and general commentary, see the Commons Library briefing paper on the Bill.
Employment Tribunal rulings on gender-critical beliefs in the workplace
A series of employment tribunal rulings since 2021 have considered whether and to what extent gender-critical beliefs count as “philosophical beliefs”. Philosophical beliefs are protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Gender-critical beliefs include the belief that sex is biological and immutable, people cannot change their sex and sex is distinct from gender-identity.
An uncertain future for workers’ rights
The government’s assurances that workers’ rights will be protected post-Brexit are not convincing, writes Patrick Brione Last Friday, I watched with disappointment as a series of Conservative members of parliament spoke at great length in parliament about their favourite radio shows and recited a long series of other glib anecdotes. Their purpose? To waste parliamentary time in order to prevent the debate of a bill on workers’ rights.
First polling conducted since specific demands for EU reform established. Leave marginally ahead of Remain:
First polling conducted since specific demands for EU reform established. Leave marginally ahead of Remain: First EU opinion polling conducted since specific demands for EU reform were outlined by David Cameron. Full Data tables for all questions are available Survation is a member of The British Polling Council and abides by it’s rules.
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