THERESA May is set to unveil a raft a new measures to protect workers’ rights after Brexit.
It’s all part of the Tory leader’s plan to woo Labour MPs as she tries to muster support for her Brexit deal.
The Commons is due to vote on the Withdrawal Agreement next week, and with negotiations stumbling in Brussels, it looks as little changed from the deal overwhelmingly rejected by MPs in January.
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Downing Street believe winning over some Labour MPs could help them get the deal through the Commons.
The Prime Minister said the Government would make a commitment not to reduce the standards of workers’ rights from EU laws that are retained in UK law.
She also said Parliament would be given the right to adopt any future changes in EU law that strengthen workers’ rights or workplace health and safety standards.
That will include the Work Life Balance Directive, which introduces new rights for parents and carers, due to come in after the UK leaves the EU.
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The Prime Minister said: “We have as a country led the way in workers’ rights while maintaining a flexible labour market. The enormous success of our jobs market and the wealth of opportunities for workers across the nation have long been underpinned by the policies and standards that exceed the minimums set by the EU and that has been driven by successive governments of all parties.
“When it comes to workers’ rights this Parliament has set world-leading standards and will continue to do so in the future, taking its own decisions working closely with trade unions and businesses.”
Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: “Support for the Prime Minister’s bad Brexit deal means swapping strong legal protections on workers’ rights for legally unenforceable tweaks that are not worth the paper they are written on.”
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