Equal Pay and Flexible Working Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Amends the Equal Pay Act 1970 to strengthen and clarify equal pay protections for workers.
• Introduces provisions relating to flexible working (the rules governing when and how workers can request flexible hours).
• Originated in the House of Lords and has completed the first two readings in that house (December 2008 and January 2009).
• If enacted, the changes would apply to employers and employees in both public and private sectors.
• Leaves the door open for further stages in the Lords before moving to the House of Commons.

Progress

The bill is currently at the Lords’ second reading. The next steps would typically be committee stage, report stage, and third reading in the Lords before it could move to the House of Commons.