The political parties have set out their manifestoes and pledges. Perhaps more than ever before, employment law has become central to the debate with the economy and jobs (or lack thereof) being a key issue.

If you’re still undecided as to who to vote for, we provide a summary of the main employment related promises:

CONSERVATIVES

• Minimum Wage: a promise to reach their next goal of £7 per hour in the near future.
• Human Rights: repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 (which gave effect to the European Convention on Human Rights in the UK) and the introduction of a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. This will make European Court of Human Rights judgments “advisory” only and they will not be binding on the UK Supreme Court.
• Significant changes to the existing rules on industrial action, including:
  • minimum of 14 days’ notice of industrial action;
  • new rules to restrict picketing;
  • removing the existing ban on the use of agency workers to cover striking employees.
• Preventing the use of exclusivity clauses in zero-hours contracts, to ensure that such workers can undertake work for other employers.
• Capping enhanced redundancy payments paid to public sector employees at £95,000.

• Increasing the national minimum wage to £8 per hour (with a target of 2020 to do so), improving enforcement measures and introducing a tax break to employers who pay a living wage.
• Atypical Workers: employees on zero hours contracts will be given new rights including a right for employees who consistently work regular hours to receive a fixed hours contract automatically. There will be a ban on exclusivity provisions, as well as requiring atypical worker availability on the off-chance that they will be needed.  If shifts for such workers are cancelled at short notice, employers will be required to pay compensation.
• Employment Tribunal: the current system to be abolished (or perhaps reformed) and a new system put in place which ensures all workers have proper access to justice. It has been reported that rather than abolishing tribunal fees Labour will introduce a better system for means testing.
• Trade Union Rights: there will be a public enquiry into blacklisting in the construction industry.
• Promoting equal pay by increasing transparency and requiring companies to publish details of average pay.
• Increasing the current entitlement to statutory paternity pay from two to four weeks and increasing paternity pay to a minimum of £260 per week.
• Removing barriers for parents returning to work, including increasing free childcare to 25 hours for three and four year olds and increasing opportunities for flexible working in the public sector.
• Taking action to prevent the exploitation of migrant workers.

• Minimum Wage: a proposal will be made to the Low Pay Commission for a single national minimum wage for 16 to 17-year-olds in work and first year of apprenticeships. This will also ensure that younger workers are protected from discrimination. In addition, a national minimum wage enforcement section will be introduced to HM Revenue and Customs.
• The creation of a new ‘Workers’ Rights Agency’ for the enforcement of workers’ rights, including national minimum wage and working time.
• Making recruitment in the public sector anonymous, to reduce the possibility of discrimination during the recruitment process.
• Granting fathers an additional four weeks’ paternity leave.

• UKIP are campaigning for the UK’s exit from the European Union and withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. The Human Rights Act to be replaced with a new British Bill of Rights.
• Working Time Regulations to be amended to give trainee doctors, surgeons and medics the proper environment to train and practice.
• A repeal of the Agency Workers Directive, which gives agency workers who have been hired for 12 continuous weeks the right to equal treatment with their hirer’s employees. In its place: a code of conduct (or legislation, if necessary) to be introduced requiring employers to offer fixed hours contracts to employees who have worked on zero hours terms for a year.
• Permission for businesses to exploit the right to discriminate in favour of young British workers.

• Minimum Wage: commitment to turn the national minimum wage into a genuine living wage.
• Public Sector Workers: measures introduced to protect the pay, conditions and status of professionals in health and education.
• A cap on bankers’ bonuses to be introduced and enforced.