The Deputy Prime Minister was harangued by Tories in the Commons today as she insisted the Employments Rights Bill would have a 'positive impact on growth'.
Angela Rayner was forced to defend the government's flagship workers' rights law after its own impact assessment suggested it could cost businesses up to £5billion a year.
Documents published ahead of the vote stated that the government 'expects the policies covered within the Bill to impose a direct cost on business of low billion pounds per year .' But Tory James Wild interrupted her speech to ask: 'How does loading costs onto employers help boost growth and job creation?'
The government said protections such as guaranteed hours and giving reasonable notice or compensation for lost work would help shift workers keep up to £600 a year. A release accompanying the Bill pointed to those doing irregular work in the North and Midlands as potential beneficiaries. Overall, the plans are expected to add 'less than 1.5 per cent' on to employment costs, according to the assessment.
The proposed changes to statutory sick pay of removing the lower earnings limit and waiting period are 'certain to have a disproportionate cost to small and micro businesses'. 'These reforms will improve the health of our workforce, bring real economic gains and ensure working people share fairly in the gains of growth.'
In a letter to chief executives of every FTSE100 company the opposition says the landmark reforms will 'hinder investment and job creation'.Setting out the proposals in a letter to business chiefs, Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake will say: 'Labour's package of regulation will result in a tsunami of flawed regulation that will hinder investment and job creation.'
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