POLITICAL COMMENT: MP celebrates historic upgrades to workers’ rights and uplift in wages for employees

From the 6th of April, workers across Portsmouth will benefit from reforms introduced through Labour’s Employment Rights Act, including: 

• ‘Day 1’ rights to paternity and unpaid parental leave 

• Stronger protections for whistleblowers of sexual harassment 

• Strengthened Statutory Sick Pay 

After hearing from employees across Portsmouth about the impact that insecure and low-paid work has on their lives, Mr Morgan worked closely with Government colleagues last year to pass Labour’s landmark Employment Rights Act. 

Now in force, the city MP celebrates this significant moment for Portsmouth’s local workforce –which will provide stronger protections for those in insecure work, and disproportionately benefit female, younger workers, and people with disabilities.  

Delivering on the Government’s commitment to make work pay and helping to tackle the cost of living, Mr Morgan also welcomes action taken to ensure residents have more money at the end of the month.  

Through significant uplifts to the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage, delivered from the 1st of April, this Labour Government are ensuring the lowest paid workers across the city will take home hundreds of more pounds each year, with increases of £900 for full-time workers on the National Living Wage and £1500 for the National Minimum Wage. 

New support is also being delivered for local businesses too – as from the 7th of April the newly established Fair Work Agency will provide stronger enforcement powers to stop the best of British businesses being unfairly undercut.  

Bringing together three enforcement agencies, the Fair Work Agency will also support the most vulnerable workers across the country, by cracking down on businesses behaving badly and making sure everyone plays by the same rules. 

Mr Morgan celebrated the introduction of these key improvements for local workers – introduced this month despite consistent efforts from opposition parties, including Reform and the Conservatives, to water down, delay and block the Employment Rights Act. 

Additionally, Mr Morgan condemned recent comments from Reform, who stated they would repeal the Employment Rights Act, which would strip away rights from the most vulnerable workers, and cause uncertainty for local businesses.  

Working closely with businesses and trade unions to secure these upgrades to workers’ rights, these changes deliver on the next stages of the Labour Government’s landmark Employment Rights Act, which will benefit over 18 million working people across the UK.  

Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said: “This month marks a defining moment for workers across Portsmouth, who will now benefit from better pay and stronger rights at work. 

“Constituents tell me the strain that insecure work and low pay have had on their lives for far too long. 

“This city’s residents deserve security in work, to be paid properly for the work they do and to know if they’re sick that they’ll be protected – and that’s exactly what these changes deliver.  

“I’m proud to have played my part in securing these measures and to be part of a Labour Government that truly backs working people.”