LONDON (UK) – The business secretary tweeted on Thursday that the government will not lower standards when it comes to workers’ rights. This comes in response to a Financial Times report on plans to shake up EU labour norms as part of a post-Brexit overhaul.
Earlier on Thursday, the newspaper carried a report that the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy was mulling changes aimed at ending the 48-hour working week, changing norms regarding rest breaks and not including overtime pay when calculating some holiday pay entitlements.
“We want to protect and enhance workers’ rights going forward, not row back on them,” said Kwasi Kwarteng, secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy.
Opposition parliamentarian Ed Miliband said the government’s priorities were “out of step with the needs of workers and their families”.
“These proposals are not about cutting red tape for businesses but ripping up vital rights for workers,” he said.
