Employment Rights Bill continues Lords committee stage

The Employment Rights Bill aims to update and enhance existing employment rights, make provision regarding pay and conditions in particular sectors, as well as make reforms in relation to trade union matters and industrial action. Major topics of the bill include:

• Zero hours contracts
• Fire and rehire
• Flexible working
• Unfair dismissal.

Line by line examination 

Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill.

Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses.

Seven days of committee stage have been scheduled so far:

• Tuesday 29 April
• Thursday 8 May
• Tuesday 13 May
• Monday 19 May
• Wednesday 21 May
• Tuesday 3 June
• Thursday 5 June.*

(*schedule is subject to change)

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day five of committee stage have put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) on subjects including:

• violence and harassment in the workplace
• expanded duties of the Health and Safety Executive
• discrimination on the basis of political affiliation
• statutory maternity and paternity leave
• workplace AI risk assessments.

How to follow

• Watch live on Parliament TV from 3.45pm.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (available from three hours after the debate).

Explore further information

Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing. 

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day four: Monday 19 May

Members speaking on day four of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) on issues regarding harassment in the workplace, including:

• accusations of sexual harassment
• employer responsibilities
• non-disclosure agreements.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording: part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Committee stage day three: Tuesday 13 May

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) on subjects including:

• adjustments to statutory sick and paternity pay
• increased leave for foster and kinship carers
• time off for special constables to undertake police duties.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recordings: part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcripts: part one and part two.

Committee stage day two: Wednesday 8 May

Members speaking on day two of committee stage have put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) on subjects including:

• allowances to change guaranteed hours contracts
• employee representative bodies and staff associations
• impact assessments on hospitality, retail and healthcare sectors.

Catch up

• Watch on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day one: Tuesday 29 April

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill on subjects including:

• fixed term contracts and agency workers
• guaranteed hours
• definition of 'reasonable notice'
• unfair dismissal.

Catch up

• Watch on Parliament TV: part one and part two. 
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Second reading

Second reading, a chance for members to discuss the core aims of the Employment Rights Bill, took place on Thursday 27 March.

Image: Alex Kotliarskyi / Unsplash