The Fair Work Agency – set up to police employers and enforce the Employment Rights Act – has been instructed by Labour to expand itself outside of its current remit. Two foundational documents published yesterday have snuck the provisions in…
The ‘strategic steer’ document from DBT contains a “thought leadership” section. In it the FWA is told it should focus on:
Later it is instructed to “prepare to commence holiday pay enforcement in 2027 and set out a clear plan to extend enforcement to other rights.” In addition it will have police-style powers to raid employers. The Enforcement Policy Statement additionally states that “the need to consult lawyers prior to compliance” is not considered reasonable cause for withholding information during an inspection. Nor is the absence of a senior member of staff, nor “inconvenience.” No lawyering up when the inspectors arrive…
The FWA also has the ability to obtain authorisations to intercept and acquire communications data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Rayner’s troops can check your phone messages…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”