After fighting for stronger protections for workers across Rotherham and Doncaster, John Healey celebrates new measures delivered by this Labour Government coming into force, that will provide better rights and higher pay for local people.

From the 6th of April, workers will benefit from reforms introduced through Labour’s Employment Rights Act, including:

  • ‘Day 1’ rights to paternity and unpaid parental leave
  • Stronger protections for whistleblowers of sexual harassment
  • Strengthened Statutory Sick Pay

After hearing from employees across Rotherham and Doncaster about the impact that insecure and low-paid work has on their lives, John worked closely with Government colleagues last year to pass Labour’s landmark Employment Rights Act.

Now in force, John is celebrating this significant moment for the local workforce – which will provide stronger protections for those in insecure work, and disproportionately benefit female, younger workers, and people with disabilities.

Delivering on the Government’s commitment to make work pay and helping to tackle the cost of living, John welcomes action taken to ensure residents have more money at the end of the month. Through significant uplifts to the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage, delivered from the 1st of April, this Labour Government are ensuring the lowest paid workers will take home hundreds of more pounds each year, with increases of £900 for full-time workers on the National Living Wage and £1500 for the National Minimum Wage.

New support is also being delivered for local businesses too – as from the 7th of April the newly established Fair Work Agency will provide stronger enforcement powers to stop the best of British businesses being unfairly undercut. Bringing together three enforcement agencies, the Fair Work Agency will also support the most vulnerable workers across the country, by cracking down on businesses behaving badly and making sure everyone plays by the same rules.

Working closely with businesses and trade unions to secure these upgrades to workers’ rights, these changes deliver on the next stages of the Labour Government’s landmark Employment Rights Act, which will benefit over 18 million working people across the UK.

John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said:

“This month marks a defining moment for workers across our area, who will now benefit from better pay and stronger rights at work.

“Constituents tell me the strain that insecure work and low pay have had on their lives for far too long.

“Residents deserve security in work, to be paid properly for the work they do and to know if they’re sick that they’ll be protected – and that’s exactly what these changes deliver.

“I’m proud to have played my part in securing these measures and to be part of a Labour Government that truly backs working people.”