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The government has U-turned on its promise to protect workers from unfair dismissal from day one in a job.
In a watering down of one of the key measures in the Employment Rights Bill, the qualifying period for unfair dismissal will now be six months – down from 24 months currently.
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Labour wanted to bring in protections from day one in the job but faced opposition from some businesses.
There will also be no statutory probation period and workers will still get sick pay from day one in the job and paternity leave from April next year.
Ministers said reducing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal was a “workable package” that will “benefit millions of working people who will gain new rights and offer business and employers much-needed clarity”.
Businesses have largely welcomed the change, but unions gave a more hostile response.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said the bill was now a “shell of its former self”.
“With fire and rehire and zero-hours contracts not being banned, the bill is already unrecognisable.
“These constant row backs will only damage workers’ confidence that the protections promised will be worth the wait. Labour needs to keep its promises.”
The TUC urged the House of Lords to allow the rest of the legislation to pass.
Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, said: “The Employment Rights Bill is essential to better quality, more secure jobs for millions of workers across the economy.
“The absolute priority now is to get these rights – like day one sick pay – on the statute book so that working people can start benefitting from them from next April.
“Following the government’s announcement, it is now vital that peers respect Labour’s manifesto mandate and that this bill secures royal assent as quickly as possible.”
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