THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
By Staff Reporter- Leicester
Trade unions have broadly welcomed the UK government’s Employment Rights Bill, describing it as one of the most significant shifts in favour of workers’ and union rights in decades. However, labour and migrant rights groups warn that without strong enforcement, many vulnerable workers could remain exposed to exploitation.
The Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent before the end of the year, contains 28 reforms affecting industrial action, trade union recognition, workplace access and individual employment protections. Many of the measures reverse restrictions introduced under previous governments and have been long demanded by trade unions.
Key changes include the removal of turnout thresholds for strike ballots, stronger protection against dismissal for taking part in lawful industrial action, and extended validity for strike mandates. The legislation also makes it easier for unions to gain recognition and introduces a new statutory right for independent trade unions to access workplaces, including through digital communication.
Trade unions argue that these reforms will make it easier for workers to organise collectively and challenge unfair treatment. Employer groups, however, have raised concerns about increased disruption and legal uncertainty.
The Indian Workers Association (Great Britain) said the Bill represented a positive change in direction but stressed that stronger rights on paper would not automatically translate into better conditions on the ground.
“The Employment Rights Bill marks a long-overdue shift back towards collective rights at work, and trade unions are right to welcome it,” said Sital Singh Gill, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association (G.B). “But legislation alone will not stop exploitation if it is not enforced properly.”
Migrant workers still vulnerable
Campaigners say migrant workers remain among the most vulnerable groups in the labour market, particularly in sectors such as care, hospitality, transport and food processing. Many are reluctant to report abuse because their immigration status is tied to their employer.
“Migrant workers often suffer underpayment, excessive hours and unsafe conditions in silence,” Gill said. “A right that cannot be enforced is not a right at all — it is only a promise on paper.”
While the Bill strengthens collective employment rights, it does not directly address the link between immigration control and employment, an issue that unions and migrant rights organisations say must be tackled to prevent ongoing exploitation.
Union access and recognition
Another significant reform is the introduction of a legal process allowing unions to request access to workplaces to meet, support and represent workers. Employers who repeatedly refuse access could face fines of up to £150,000.
“Giving trade unions proper access to workplaces is essential if we are serious about tackling exploitation at its roots,” Gill said.
The Bill also simplifies the process for statutory union recognition, a move expected to increase union presence in non-unionised workplaces.
Enforcement the key test
While major unions including UNISON and the TUC have welcomed the overall direction of the Bill, concerns remain about whether enforcement bodies are sufficiently resourced to uphold the new rights.
The government has said the reforms will be implemented in stages between 2025 and 2027.
“This Bill is a step in the right direction,” Gill said. “But the real test will be whether it improves the lives of the lowest-paid and most exploited workers in the UK.”
