A Labour government would create a new “Ministry for Employment Rights” in a bid to boost protections for workers, Jeremy Corbyn has announced.
Speaking at the TUC annual conference,The Labour leader promised to give power to the true wealth creators, the workers rather than the “born-to-rule establishment”.
He also promised that a Labour Government would ban unpaid internships and zero-hour contracts and overturn Conservative changes to trade union law.
“For 40 years, the share of the cake going to workers has been getting smaller and smaller. It’s no coincidence that the same period has seen a sustained attack on the organisations that represent workers – trade unions,” he said.
“We have witnessed a deliberate, decades-long transfer of power away from working people. The consequences are stark for all workers, whether members of a trade union or not. Pay is lower than it was a decade ago in real terms.
“Labour is on the side of the people in the real battle against the born-to-rule establishment that Johnson represents. We stand for the interests of the many – the overwhelming majority who do the work and pay their taxes – not the few at the top who hoard the wealth and dodge their taxes.
“It’s Labour’s historic mission to transform people’s lives, and that transformation begins in the workplace.”
The CBI have condemned the announcement.Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said:
“The UK is facing a defining moment in its history. Only by working together can business and politicians shape an exciting and prosperous future.
“Yet these proposals, made in isolation from business, look set to turn back the clock decades. They fail to reflect the reality in workplaces around the country. The vast majority of firms thrive on strong employee engagement, invest in training and prioritise wellbeing. They support jobs, sustainable wage rises and enforcement of employment law. A fundamental re-write of regulation is the last thing the economy needs right now.
“Signalling widespread renationalisation wilfully ignores the many strengths that firms bring to the delivery of high-quality public services, including vital investment and innovation.
“At a time when the UK is already on the watchlist for international investors, these proposals will do further harm to our economy. We ask Labour to rethink and engage with business to restore confidence, or risk harming the very people they are seeking to help.”
