Fury over ‘omission’

East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald has described the UK Government’s failure to bring forward legislation to protect and enhance workers’rights as a ‘glaring omission’.

She blasted growing inequality in the UK labour market as precarious forms of work, such as zero-hours contracts, are used

Ms Oswald, pictured, also highlighted the tactic used by companies during the pandemic of firing whole sections of their workforce and rehiring them on lower terms and conditions. This was used most recently by British Gas, affecting an estimated 400 gas engineers.

She said:“This Queen’s Speech was an opportunity to shape the future of work and address the difficulties facing those whose employment is increasingly precarious and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

“The reality facing too many workers is of an increasingly exploitative labour market where they have been stripped of basic rights.

“By failing to bring forward an Employment Bill, the Tories are choosing inaction, and the inequality that hampers the future of so many will get worse because of that.

“Last week, the Scottish people voted for a Parliament committed to fair work and equality, but the only way to deliver that is for Scotland to have the full powers of an independent country, which is why the SNP will press forward with plans for an independence referendum.”