Claim d153ac83Checked 21 Jul 2026
Strongly SupportedOn the evidence scale
“The Labour Government has given workers more rights.”
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
The claim that "The Labour Government has given workers more rights" is strongly supported by the legislative record. The Employment Rights Bill was introduced to Parliament on 10 October 2024 and received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025 — the flagship legislation of Labour's "Plan to Make Work Pay," described by the government as "the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation."
Key new rights established by the Act include: (1) day-one bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss; (2) day-one paternity and unpaid parental leave, removing 26-week and 1-year qualifying periods (effective April 2026); (3) ending exploitative zero-hours contracts via the right to a contract reflecting regularly worked hours and reasonable shift notice; (4) ending fire and rehire by making dismissal for refusing contract variations automatically unfair; (5) day-one protection from unfair dismissal, removing the two-year qualifying period (with a statutory probationary period); (6) strengthened statutory sick pay by removing the three-day waiting period and lower earnings limit; (7) enhanced flexible working rights requiring employers to justify refusals; and (8) expanded harassment protections and new trade union access rights.
As of the speech date (3 June 2026), the Act was already law, with some provisions (e.g., day-one paternity leave) having commenced from April 2026 and others scheduled for phased implementation through 2026–2027. The speech's specific citation of "bereavement leave on day one" is accurate. The government's own factsheets and the House of Commons Library briefing confirm all of these measures. There is no ambiguity about causation — this was Labour's flagship bill, introduced and enacted during their tenure.
Sources:
- House of Commons Library, "Employment Rights Bill 2024-25" (CBP-10109), https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10109/
- UK Parliament, "Employment Rights Act 2025," https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3737
- GOV.UK, "Employment Rights Act 2025: factsheets," https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-rights-bill-factsheets
- GOV.UK, "What does the Employment Rights Bill mean for you?", https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-does-the-employment-rights-bill-mean-for-you
- GOV.UK, "Employment Rights Bill to boost productivity for British workers and grow the economy," https://www.gov.uk/government/news/employment-rights-bill-to-boost-productivity-for-british-workers-and-grow-the-economy
- GOV.UK, "Bereavement, Paternity and Unpaid Parental Leave" factsheet (PDF), https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69613116d6532b76df7dcd89/bereavement-paternity-and-unpaid-parental-leave.pdf
From speech
They introduced a system that is broken, they put the bill through the roof, and now they want to give us advice on welfare—no thanks! The question should always be not what benefits people are entitled to, but what help we can give people to change their lives. That is what the Work and Pensions Secretary was arguing, and he is right about that. It is a Labour Government that are helping people into work. Leader of the Opposition asks what we have done: more rights for renters, stopping unfair rent hikes, and giving 11 million people greater security and a place to call home; and more rights for workers, including bereavement leave on day one—ask anyone who has lost someone, and they will say just how important it is to have bereavement leave. We have lifted half a million children out of poverty. We often say in this House that every child should go as far as their talent or ability will take them. That does not happen if they are growing up in poverty. The Conservatives have fought us at every turn. I am proud of what we are delivering. There is much more to do.
Sources opened