Ahead of the General Election earlier this year, one of the promises Labour made was to improve workers’ rights.

The plans were to be put in place within 100 days of being elected and their proposals have been praised by the Trade Union Congress (TUC). General secretary Paul Nowak insisted they would work with the Labour Government during the congress in Brighton but did warn that it is impossible to fix what the Tories did overnight.

He said: “We know Keir Starmer and this Government have the interests of working people at heart in the way that the Conservatives never did, and never will.

“But no government can put right 14 years of Tory chaos overnight, and no government can take on the job of rebuilding this country on its own.

“Politics isn’t a spectator sport. We need to roll up our sleeves and get involved.

“So, let’s pledge today. We will work with the new government to rebuild our public services. 

It's now expected to be outlined in parliament later today with workers told exactly what is coming. 

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“We’ll play our part in recasting Britain’s industrial future, and above all we will work with the Government to face down those on the right who wish to sow division and discord in our communities.”

Here are some of the plans that have been outlined by Labour.

Make flexible working an option for everyone

The new plans will make flexible working an option for workers from day one in a job. Places of work will be required to accommodate requests as long as it is a reasonable request. Labour say they will ensure workers benefit from it. This could include flexi-time contracts or have hours that better accommodate school terms.

Compressing hours into a four-day week will also be an option for people from when they start a job if the new bill is voted through.  

Give employees the ‘right to switch off’

Changes to the way the workplace operates has led to blurred lines between work and home life, particularly for people who work from home on a full time basis. The pandemic led to more people doing that and it can be the case that employees are dealing with work outside of their contracted hours, including phone calls from their boss.

The new bill will look to give workers the ‘right to switch off’ and follow similar models to Ireland and Belgium which are countries which have already introduced those practices.

Labour believe this will promote a better work/life balance. Despite that, the party does admit there are times when workers know there are circumstances their employer may contact them outside of normal hours while some employees like having the opportunity to work outside of conventional patterns.

Make key rights available from day one

The new plans will make it necessary for employers to provide basic individual rights to all workers from day one rather than the current system that often forces workers to wait up to two years to access basic rights of protection against unfair dismissal, parental leave and sick pay.

Employers will retain the right to have probationary periods but the changes will ensure new hired workers are not fired without cause or reason.

Ban the practice of fire and rehire

Fire and rehire is a practice used by employees to make staff redundant and then employ them again on reduced terms and conditions. The threat of it often ensure employees voluntarily agree to lower pay and reduced terms and conditions but this will now be outlawed in the new bill.

Completely ban ‘exploitative’ zero hours contracts

Labour are proposing to completely ban ‘exploitative’ zero hours contracts. This will ensure all jobs provide a ‘baseline level of security’.

As part of that, they will also ensure all workers get reasonable notice of any change in shifts or working times with compensation that is proportionate for that notice should any shifts be cancelled or curtailed. The plans won’t prevent employers offering fixed-term contracts including seasonal work.  

Improve ‘standards’ of employment tribunals

Labour say it will look to bring employment tribunals ‘up to standard’ and look to easy the burden on civil courts by making them more accessible. One way will be to ‘digitise’ employment tribunals and increase the time limit within which employees are able to make a claim from three months to six months.

Laws to help new mothers

The tribunals changes is one thing that will help new mothers, or women who are pregnant. Evidence suggests women struggle to make funds available to lodge claims within the time limit so the change to six months will help.

Labour say it is also committed to strengthening protections for pregnant women by making it unlawful to sack them for six months after their return – except in specific circumstances.

Genuine living wage, fair tips and help for adult social care

Labour have a number of proposals under its fair pay measures, including a ‘genuine living wage’ for workers. That will reflect the cost of living crisis while other aims are to remove ‘discriminatory’ age bands.

It will also strengthen the law on ensuring hospitality workers receive their full tips and workers decide how tips are allocated. Unpaid internships will also be banned, except from when they are part of education or training.

There will also be a fair pay agreement in the adult social care sector to establish national terms and conditions as well as fair pay rates.

Fair Work Agency

It will also look to create a Fair Work Agency that will strengthen the enforcement of workers rights.