Jan262017

It is clear that the Tories’ rigged economy simply isn’t delivering for the majority of people in Britain – Rebecca Long-Bailey

Labour
image_pdfimage_print

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the
Treasury, responding to GDP figures published today, said:

“While we welcome today’s Q4 GDP figures, growth for 2016 as a whole is
lower than 2015, and lower than forecast by the OBR just two months ago in the
Autumn Statement. It is clear that the Tories’ rigged
economy simply isn’t delivering for the majority of people in
Britain. Prices are rising but earnings are still
below where they were before the financial crash. As a result, we have
extremely high levels of household debt as people struggle to make ends meet on
incomes alone. 

"Manufacturing is bumping along without proper support from government to
power it through Brexit, even the Bank of England acknowledged recently that
our economy was being driven by consumer spending rather than trade and export.
This is clearly not a Government serious about making sure that we support British
industry and claim a prestigious place at the world’s table as we leave the
European Union. 

"Labour will fix our rigged economy with a real living wage, expected to
be £10 an hour by 2020, and the long-term, patient investment we need to
make sure that businesses thrive and that nobody and no community is
left behind.”

Jan262017

News story: Government commits to ensuring new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy

HM Government
image_pdfimage_print

Today the government is committing to making sure new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy in the workplace.

In a response to a report by the Women and Equalities Select Committee on pregnancy and maternity discrimination, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it will consult in due course on options to ensure new and expectant mothers in work have sufficient protections from redundancy.

Business Minister Margot James said:

We are determined to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination and a key part of that is making sure new and expectant mothers are supported and treated fairly by their employers.

While most businesses abide by the law, some do not. There should be zero tolerance of discrimination against pregnant women, or women who have just given birth, that’s why today we are committing to making sure new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy.

I’d like to thank the Women and Equalities Select Committee for shining a light on this issue which is a key priority of mine.

The government has also committed to considering what further guidance can be provided to both courts and claimants about existing flexibilities in the employment tribunal system to extend the time limit for bringing a case.

The 3-month time limit for bringing a case can be extended when the independent employment tribunal decides it is “just and equitable” to do so.