Low Pay Britain 2024

The Government is planning the largest set of workplace reforms in a generation, with plans to overhaul multiple areas of employment policy. These have the potential to make real inroads in the problem of insecurity at work, and would particularly benefit low-paid workers, who bear the brunt of labour market insecurity. The Government is yet to set out the details of some of these reforms – understandably given it has only been in power a matter of weeks and some of the issues are complicated – and these details will determine how effectively workplace insecurity is tackled.

This – the 14th annual Low Pay Britain report – examines some of the key measures the Government is proposing, analysing their potential to improve workplace security while also exploring the risks and trade-offs. The four areas we focus on are unfair dismissal, sick pay, hours insecurity, and the minimum wage. While there are strong arguments for reform in all these areas, their success hinges on the careful implementation, and a careful balancing of the needs of workers against potential impacts on employers and the broader economy.

As the Government moves forward with these reforms, it is crucial that they draw on lessons from the past and remain responsive to emerging evidence. This is an important moment for labour market policy, and presents a unique opportunity to uplift the standards of employment, ensuring a more secure and equitable future for all workers in the UK.