Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced on Sunday that the UK government will introduce new legislation next month aimed at enhancing workers' rights.

The upcoming Employment Rights Bill is part of the government's effort to address concerns from both trade unions, which are closely linked to the Labour Party, and business leaders, who have expressed reservations about some of the proposed changes.

The bill is expected to include a ban on zero-hour contracts, which affect around one million workers in the UK. These contracts do not guarantee a minimum number of hours, paying only for the hours worked. The legislation will also aim to outlaw "fire and rehire" practices, where employers terminate employees only to rehire them on less favorable terms.

Labour has also committed to making parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal available from the first day of employment, although probation periods would still remain in effect.

“We’ll be putting the legislation forward next month,” Rayner told the BBC. “This will bring the most significant improvement to workers' rights in a generation.”

The government had promised to introduce this legislation within 100 days of the July national election. However, some businesses have raised concerns about a lack of clarity regarding the proposed measures.

Rayner’s remarks came at the start of the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, where ministers faced scrutiny over policies, including limiting winter fuel payments for the elderly and managing donations for clothing and hospitality.

Earlier in the week, Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds met with businesses and trade unions to discuss Labour's plan to end zero-hour contracts. The party seeks to replace the "one-sided" flexibility these contracts offer, ensuring that workers receive fair notice for any changes to their shifts. Photo by Simon Dawson / No10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.