Ben Willmott, Head of Policy for the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said:

"The decision to delay the Employment Bill once again leaves the Government with very little time to meet its promises to protect and enhance workers’ rights and make the UK the best place in the world to work. This is a missed opportunity to improve labour market enforcement through the creation of a well-resourced Single Enforcement Body, when there is a growing need to protect the rights of workers, particularly the lower paid and more vulnerable who are facing mounting financial pressure.

"The recent sacking of workers, without notice, by P&O Ferries shows that much more needs to be done to ensure unscrupulous employers cannot ignore their legal responsibilities and undercut employment standards in the UK. It will also be hugely disappointing for working carers that there is no progress on legislating to give them new rights to take time off to manage their caring responsibilities.

"We still await the Government’s response to the consultation on making flexible working the default. However, there remains parliamentary time for the Government to make good on its important commitment to boost the availability of flexible working by making the right to request flexible working a day one right. This is something the CIPD has been campaigning for over the last year through its #FlexFrom1st campaign."

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