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Brexit: No plans to dilute workers' rights, minister says

Getty Images Kwasi KwartengGetty Images

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has denied reports that his department is planning to dilute UK workers' rights.

It comes after the Financial Times said some protections brought in under EU law - such as the 48-hour limit on the working week - could be scrapped.

New rules on rest breaks and changes to how holiday pay is calculated from overtime could be proposed, it added.

But Mr Kwarteng insisted he wanted to "protect and enhance workers' rights going forward, not row back on them".

In a social media post, he said that the UK "has one of the best workers' rights records in the world - going further than the EU in many areas."

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Labour said the newspaper report suggested the government was out of step with public feeling on workplace rules.

Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said: "These proposals are not about cutting red tape for businesses but ripping up vital rights for workers. They should not even be up for discussion."

The FT said the proposals were being drawn up with the approval of Downing Street, but that they hadn't yet been approved by ministers or cabinet.

UK is 'standard setter'

A government spokesperson said: "We have absolutely no intention of lowering the standards of workers' rights.

"The UK has one of the best workers' rights records in the world, and it is well known that the UK goes further than the EU in many areas.

"Leaving the EU allows us to continue to be a standard setter and protect and enhance UK workers' rights."

When the UK left the EU it retained many of its laws, but it is now able to change them.

One aspect of EU employment regulation is the EU's Working Time Directive.

It governs the hours employees in the EU can be asked to work. This must not exceed 48 hours on average, including any overtime.

But employees can choose to opt out of the 48-hour week, if they often work overtime in roles in the emergency services, for example.

In the 2019 Queen's Speech outlining the government's agenda for the coming parliamentary session, changes in employment law were promised.

A new Employment Bill is expected to be published in 2021. One issue it is thought it will address is over the distribution of tips.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady urged the prime minister to "make good on his promises to his voters" on Friday.

"The best way to do that is to bring forward the long-awaited Employment Bill, to make sure everyone is treated fairly at work," she said.