Group calls for clarification on Retained EU Law Bill

A group of family charities, think tank and campaigners is calling for clarification on the Retained EU Law Bill.

A group of 16 charities, unions, think tanks and campaign groups focused on policy related to working families has written to the Government calling for clarity about proposed Retained EU Law Bill.

The Families and Work Group, which includes Working Families, says the uncertainty of the current bill and the repeated delays in its progress have left working parents and carers – as well as their employers – “in limbo”.

They are particularly concerned about the status of the following laws, “given their direct and indirect impact upon people with caring responsibilities, who are more likely to be atypical workers”:

The Part Time Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000, and Fixed-Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 which implements the health and safety requirements of the Pregnant Workers Directive (92/85/EEC) into UK law.
Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999
Working Time Regulations 1998

The organisations say the uncertainty over the future status of these laws contrasts with the Government’s support for a series of Private Members’ Bills on issues ranging from flexible working to neo-natal care leave and pay and greater protections for parents returning from parental leave.

The group welcomes assurances that the Government has “no intention of weakening workers’ rights”, but says that, until the Government is able to clarify which laws it wishes to retain, the presumption is that all EU-derived legislation will be subject to the ‘sunset clauses’ of the Bill and will therefore cease to be effective from the 31^st December 2023.

They say: “This would create significant bureaucratic burdens for employers and throw the rights of millions of working people into jeopardy.” In addition to clarification on the Bill, the group also ask that, if ministers intend to allow legislation affecting working parents to lapse or be restated, the “sunset” date be significantly extended and the government commit to a review of the impact of changing the laws before the changes take place.