Responding to the publication of the government’s Employment Rights Bill, Protect welcomes this long overdue strengthening of workers’ rights, but sees this Bill as another missed opportunity to improve whistleblowing law.
They say things come in threes, and if Labour’s proposals to Make Work Pay go ahead as planned they’ll be merging three critical employment agencies together to create the Fair Work Agency. The new Government says the new agency will have ‘teeth’ to issue fines when employers breach employment issues like failing to pay holiday pay or not paying the entitled minimum wage, which according to Citizens Advice could impact close to 2 million people. And its whistleblowing that could make all the difference.
Reacting to the Kings Speech today, Elizabeth Gardiner, Chief Executive of whistleblowing charity Protect said: “We welcome the introduction of a new #EmploymentRights bill, this is an opportunity for the government to fulfil its commitment to improve whistleblowers’ rights. Too many people in today’s workplace don’t have any protection if they speak up to stop harm.”
As the dust settles on a dramatic election night, thoughts now turn to what a Labour Government will do. With early indications of a planned Employment Bill, and proposals to abolish the qualifying period for unfair dismissal rights and end exploitative zero-hours contracts, it’s clear this government is looking at far reaching reform.
Protect’s Environmental Whistleblowing Toolkit New research by Protect shows that concerns about being fired or victimised at work are preventing people from calling out their employers on the climate crisis and the wider environment. (The Guardian) + Our new toolkit launched at the beginning of October, providing practical help for people considering blowing the whistle on … Read more
Whistleblowing charity Protect supports Labour’s proposed clarification to whistleblowing protection Elizabeth Gardiner, CEO of Protect, the UK’s whistleblowing charity said: Protect would welcome clarification of the law. We know, from talking to whistleblowers every day, that it is difficult for anyone to be certain whether they have the protection of whistleblowing law when it comes … Read more
