Status of Workers Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Aims to unify the status of workers by revising definitions of 'employee', 'worker' and 'employer' across main employment laws (e.g., Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 and Employment Rights Act 1996).
• Would insert the same provisions into multiple Acts to ensure consistent rights and protections for workers.
• An amendment at the Lords’ third reading (agreed by Lord Hendy, Labour) was made to ensure the wording is identical across Acts, following a recommendation from the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee.
• Debate areas focus on whether a single status should extend more rights to a broader group of workers and what this would mean for employers' duties and compliance obligations.
• The bill originated in the Lords and has moved to the Commons, where it reached the 2nd Reading in May 2022, with a tied process continuing through Commons stages.

Progress

Originating in the Lords, the bill has passed its Lords stages and is underway in the Commons, where it has completed the 2nd Reading; an aligned, technical amendment was agreed in the Lords to align provisions across Acts.