[UK] Business leaders would support tougher employment laws to support workers

According to a recent report, business leaders would support tougher employment laws and a higher minimum wage to protect workers from exploitation and poverty during the second wave of COVID-19. The report came from think tank The Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), it said urgent legal reforms were needed in the jobs market to prevent extreme levels of financial insecurity, in-work poverty and worker exploitation during the coronavirus crisis.

The CPP reportedly said the end of the UK government’s furlough scheme, later in the week, would dramatically increase the risk of widespread unemployment this winter, undermining the bargaining power of workers and creating the opportunity for a rise in insecure work.

Calling for a legislative shake-up to stop a steep increase in worker poverty, the CPP recommended that the government ban zero-hours contracts and increase the minimum wage from its current level of £8.72 (for over-25s). The think tank also said that a legal pay floor should be introduced for self-employed workers to safeguard them against exploitation. The Guardian reports on the CPP’s findings and their context.

According to a recent report, business leaders would support tougher employment laws and a higher minimum wage to protect workers from exploitation and poverty during the second wave of COVID-19. The report came from think tank The Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), it said urgent legal reforms were needed in the jobs market to prevent extreme levels of financial insecurity, in-work poverty and worker exploitation during the coronavirus crisis.

The CPP reportedly said the end of the UK government’s furlough scheme, later in the week, would dramatically increase the risk of widespread unemployment this winter, undermining the bargaining power of workers and creating the opportunity for a rise in insecure work.

Calling for a legislative shake-up to stop a steep increase in worker poverty, the CPP recommended that the government ban zero-hours contracts and increase the minimum wage from its current level of £8.72 (for over-25s). The think tank also said that a legal pay floor should be introduced for self-employed workers to safeguard them against exploitation. The Guardian reports on the CPP’s findings and their context.