Making the ‘New Deal’ a good deal for low-paid workers

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The Government has come into office promising major workplace reforms that could amount to the biggest shake-up of the workplace in a generation. The ‘New Deal for Working People’ pledged a number of reforms, including to unfair dismissal, sick pay, employment status, zero hours contracts, the minimum wage, as well as changes to how employment rights are enforced. And while many of these reforms affect all workers, low earners will be most affected as they are disproportionately likely to have insecure work contracts, receive statutory rather than occupational sick pay, and not receive basic legal entitlements such as paid holiday leave.

But, although the Government has set a clear direction of travel, there are many questions still unanswered. How will probationary periods be used – will protection against unfair dismissal really be a ‘day one’ right? Does announcing a cautious one-year minimum wage policy mean there are bigger changes still to come? How should possible trade-offs with employment be handled? What would be the impact of giving zero-hours contract workers a right to regular hours?

The Resolution Foundation is publishing a series of major reports on five key economic challenges facing the new government – work, tax, housing, growth and the public finances.  To kick off the series, the Foundation is hosting an in-person and interactive webinar on the economic challenge of work. Following a presentation of the key highlights from Low Pay Britain 2024, we will hear from leading experts on what the future of employment policy and low-paid work in the UK might look like.

The event will be open for people to physically attend, alongside being broadcast via YouTube and the Resolution Foundation website. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel before and during the event via Slido.