Lords begins to check and change the Employment Rights Bill
25 April 2025
Members of the House of Lords begin to examine the Employment Rights Bill on Tuesday 29 April.
The Employment Rights Bill aims to update and enhance existing employment rights, make provision regarding pay and conditions in particular sectors, as well as make reforms in relation to trade union matters and industrial action. Major topics of the bill include:
- Zero hours contracts
- Fire and rehire
- Flexible working
- Unfair dismissal.
Line by line examination
Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill.
Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses.
Three days of committee stage have been scheduled so far:
- Tuesday 29 April
- Thursday 8 May
- Tuesday 13 April.
(*schedule is subject to change)
Proposed changes
Members speaking on day one of committee stage have put forward amendments (changes) to the bill on subjects including:
- fixed term contracts and agency workers
- guaranteed hours
- definition of 'reasonable notice'
- unfair dismissal.
How to follow
- Watch live on Parliament TV.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript (available from three hours after the debate).
Explore further information
Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.
What's happened so far?
Second reading, a chance for members to discuss the core aims of the Employment Rights Bill, took place on Thursday 27 March.
Image: Alex Kotliarskyi / Unsplash
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