North East set to benefit most from Labour’s new workers’ rights legislation
Written by Grace Genevieve Stewart-Piercy on 9th October 2024
The North East is set to reap the biggest rewards of landmark legislation which will reform workers’ rights for the first time in decades, due to be announced tomorrow (October 10).
Labour’s Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and the TUC (Trades Union Congress) met yesterday to finalise discussions about the Employment Rights Bill – the meeting itself marking a sea-change in the relationship between unions and government, after 14 years of Conservative hostility.

Sir Keir Starmer promised to introduce the Employment Rights Bill in the first 100 days of a Labour government. Photo: Alamy
The new legislation – which is yet to be introduced into Parliament to be voted on by MPs – was found to have huge support among workers who were polled by the TUC, because it extends employees’ protection across a range of areas, including:
- Providing rights such as maternity leave and sick pay from the first day of employment. (Sick pay will also be available from day one of a period of illness, instead of from day four.)
- Increasing protection against unfair dismissal.
- Ending ‘fire-and-rehire’ practices
- Banning zero-hours contracts unless it is at the employee’s request.
- Strengthening the right to unionise workplaces.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowark told The Guardian: “Labour’s workers’ rights plans are hugely popular across the political spectrum – including with Tory and Reform voters.
“After 14 years of stagnating living standards, people desperately want secure jobs they can build a decent life on. The Government’s plan to ‘make work pay’ – delivered in full – would improve incomes and the quality of work across Britain.
“It’s time to turn the page on the Tories’ low-rights, low-pay economy that has allowed good employers to be undercut by the bad. It’s time to make work pay again.”

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress. Photo: Eleventh hour Photography/Alamy
Zero-hours contracts will only be permitted if an employee specifically requests one, which will increase protections from what the unions and Labour see as ‘exploitation’ by employers.
Young adults are also expected to benefit from increased pay, as the Bill will mean every employee will be entitled to the same minimum wage regardless of age.
Once the Bill is passed, the Low Pay Commission, which advises the Government on the National Living Wage level, will also be required to factor the cost of living into its thinking.
The North East is among the regions expected to benefit most, since it has more people than anywhere else – 7% (jointly with Northern Island) – being paid at or below the minimum wage.
Disabled workers are also more likely to be earning minimum wage or below, and the North East also has the highest percentage of those people than any other.
Despite being lobbied by businesses, Rachel Reeves, Labour’s Chancellor, has defended the plans, saying that ethical businesses should be looking after their workers, irrespective of minimum legal requirements.

Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Photo: Alamy