General secretary of TUC calls Reform proposal ‘a smokescreen for slashing women’s rights’

A law proposed by Nigel Farage to “strengthen women’s rights” could cost female workers money by removing equal pay for work of equal value, unions have said.

A proposal, made by Reform UK days before the Makerfield byelection, to introduce a “women and motherhood protection act” that it says will restore equality before the law has been described as “shameless and deceptive”.

Kate Dearden says reforms such as enhanced sick pay simply bring UK into line with other big economies

Labour’s radical workers’ rights reforms have simply put the UK on a “level playing field” with other big economies, the employment minister, Kate Dearden, has said.

The government’s Employment Rights Act became law last year, with specific provisions being implemented this year and next.