Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South and deputy speaker of the House of Commons, has shared a message following the second reading of the Employment Rights Bill on Monday, which she chaired.

The Bill passed its second reading with 386 ayes and 105 noes.

Ms Cummins said: "It is essential that our legal system gives proper protections to workers and ensures that unscrupulous employers are held to account.

"With living costs rising in recent years, we must act on a plan to make work pay."

The Bill intends to introduce new protections for insecure workers, including guaranteed hours and reasonable notice or compensation for lost work.

It will also establish a new Fair Work Agency with new powers to enforce holiday pay.

Opposition MPs have raised concerns at the cost to businesses following the Government’s own impact assessment (the impact assessment can be read here).

James Wild MP challenged deputy prime minister Angela Rayner during Monday's reading, saying: "The estimated cost of the measures could be £4.5 billion a year.

"How does loading costs on to employers help to boost growth and job creation?"

The full Hansard transcript is available at https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-10-21/debates/DC4CA46C-E3A4-4A75-A0AA-5143E3E12585/EmploymentRightsBill