For too long, too many people have faced insecure work, exploitative practices and weak enforcement of basic rights.
The passage of the Employment Rights Act 2025 is a defining moment for this Labour Government. It finally brings our outdated employment laws into the 21st century and delivers on Labour’s commitment to strengthen protections at work and ensure that growth is built on fairness.
Key measures introduced by this Labour Government’s Employment Rights Act include:
- Ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire-and-rehire practices.
- Establishing day-one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave.
- Strengthening statutory sick pay.
- Launching the Fair Work Agency to ensure good businesses aren’t undercut by bad employers.
These reforms restore balance in the workplace. Insecure work and one-sided contracts undermine families’ stability and depress local economies. Whether in hospitality, retail, health, logistics or the growing tech sector, thousands of workers across Manchester Rusholme stand to benefit from clearer protections and stronger rights.
Alongside strengthening protections for workers, these measures will be beneficial for employers, helping to keep people in work, reduce recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and levelling the playing field on enforcement.
This change did not come without resistance. Shamefully, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform tried to block this legislation and deny upgrades to rights to millions of workers across the UK.
The Act will be implemented in phases to ensure smooth transition, with employees across the UK set to benefit from as early as April 2026.
As your MP, I will continue working with trade unions, local employers and community organisations to ensure these reforms are properly understood and effectively implemented.
If you have concerns about your rights at work, or questions about how the new law affects you, please contact my office: afzal.khan.mp@parliament.uk.
For an overview, see the Government factsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696fabb3c0f4afaa9536a0f2/employment-rights-act-2025-overview-factsheet.pdf