Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill: HL Bill 70 of 2023–24
This private member’s bill would expand eligibility for leave to fathers or partners who experience the death of a child’s mother, adoptive or surrogate parent.
The Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Woodley (Labour). It aims to tighten the rules around the use of fire and rehire practices by employers, including by providing affected workers with additional protections. The second reading of the bill in the House of Lords is due on 1 March 2024.
Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill [HL] (348 KB , PDF)
The Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Woodley (Labour). It aims to tighten the rules around the use of fire and rehire practices by employers, including by providing affected workers with additional protections. It is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 1 March 2024.
Other private members’ bills have been introduced on the subject in previous sessions. In the 2022–23 session, Lord Woodley introduced a bill which was identical in effect; this did not proceed to second reading. In addition, a similar bill was introduced in the House of Commons in the 2021–22 session.
In March 2022, the government committed to introducing a code to give legal force to government expectations that employers should behave fairly and reasonably when seeking to change employees’ terms and conditions. A draft code of dismissal and re-engagement was published on 24 January 2023. Consultation on this draft code closed on 18 April 2023. The government has committed to publish a final version of the code in Spring 2024.
This briefing provides information and commentary on private member’s bills seeking to address fire and rehire. It also examines reaction to the government’s draft code.
Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill [HL] (348 KB , PDF)
This private member’s bill would expand eligibility for leave to fathers or partners who experience the death of a child’s mother, adoptive or surrogate parent.
The government has estimated that 4.3 million children, or 30% of all children in the UK, were living in relative low-income households after housing costs in 2022/23. This represents an increase on the previous year. The government has said unexpectedly high inflation, driven by the war in Ukraine and supply chain challenges, contributed to the rise. It argues that falling inflation, rising real wages and uprated benefits will help low-income households in the year ahead.
The importance of skills is recognised across the main political parties in the UK. Evidence suggests that greater skill levels benefit the economy as a whole but also provide significant economic and social benefits for the individuals who possess them. The House of Lords is due to debate these issues on 9 May 2024.