Labour hasn’t yet released its manifesto. But we’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s going to be in it.
We’re taking a look at the key policies that Labour could announce in the coming weeks, in our Labour Manifesto Preview. To help you better understand what a Labour Government will mean for you and your business, over the next few days we’ll be pulling out the key policy offerings that will likely form the majority of their manifesto.
Today, we’re looking at what Labour has said it will do on work & skills.
A core tenet of Labour’s General Election campaign is its “New Deal for Working People”. The plan includes pledges to:
Deliver a “genuine living wage”:
By changing the Low Pay Commission’s remit to include cost-of-living adjustments for the first time.
Make work secure:
By “embracing technological advancements” and making flexible working the default from day one for all workers.
Support working people:
By updating trade union legislation “so it is fit for a modern economy”. Labour will remove restrictions on trade union activity.
Ban zero-hour contracts:
Ending “one sided flexibility” and ensuring all workers have the right to a contract that reflects the number of hours the regularly work.
End fire and rehire:
Reforming employment law and replacing the current statutory code with a strengthened “code of practice”.
Another key part of Labour’s Mission to Break Down Barriers to Opportunity is the transformation of the Apprenticeship Levy. They say a new Growth and Skills Levy will give employers the flexibility they need to train their workforce in new and relevant skills.
Labour also plans to set up new Technical Excellence Colleges in all parts of the country, with local government working with local businesses to align skills and training provisions with local need so people have the specialist skills to meet the demand of businesses in their area.
“Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay”, sets out how they will deliver their New Deal for Working People.
We’ll wait to see what’s in the manifesto when it’s launched, but we hope this gives you a good steer of where Labour stands on work and skills.
Our full manifesto preview – including additional insight into what Labour wants to do housing, planning, and infrastructure – is available to download here, covering each of Labour’s 5 Missions and their potential impacts on businesses.
Meanwhile, you can sign up for daily general election updates by filling in the form below.
