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The British government on Monday set out new legislation to upgrade workers’ rights — the biggest package of workplace reforms in two decades.
The aim is to ensure that the UK meets the challenges of the changing world of work.
Under the new legislation, employers would be obliged to present a written statement of rights to employees from their first day on the job, and employers who are demonstrated to have shown malice would face a fine of between 5,000 pounds (6,300 U.S. dollars) to 20,000 pounds (25,200 U.S. dollars).
The package forms a crucial part of the country’s modern industrial strategy, which aims to help businesses create better jobs across Britain.
Greg Clark, secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, said “Today’s largest upgrade in workers’ rights in over a generation is a key part of building a labour market that continues to reward people for hard work, that celebrates good employers and is boosting productivity and earning potential across the UK.”
He said the reforms “build on our pledge to build an economy that works for everyone.”
According to the government, the reforms are also meant as a response to the labour market strategy set out earlier this year by David Metcalf, director of labour market enforcement, with detailed plans to tackle the exploitation of low paid workers.
“I welcome the government’s response to my UK Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2018-2019,” said Metcalf.
The government said it was also committed to legislate to improve the clarity of the employment status tests to reflect the reality of modern working relationships.
