A raft of new workers’ rights promised by the new Labour government may not be implemented until 2026, business and political sources have told i.

During the general election Labour promised to introduce a range of new laws to bolster employee protections, ranging from the right to “switch off” from work, a ban on zero hour contracts, and a right to flexible working.

However, i has been told that much of the new legislation may not be implemented in practice for over a year.

While the Government continues to insist it will introduce the Employment Rights Bill within the first 100 days of its administration, the initial legislation brought before Parliament will not contain the full range of workers’ right measures promised during the general election campaign.

Instead, the Government will introduce secondary legislation and use non-legislative methods to introduce further rights for employees through next year with little of it likely to be fully implemented until 2026.

The delay, which is not unusual for the period of time taken to implement major new legislation, follows a forceful lobbying campaign from business groups, which have urged the government to not only water down some of its initial plans but also to delay them to ensure companies can fully prepare for the changes.

One senior business insider told i: “There’s very little detail on any of the moves and we expect the Bill to be quite thin, with more detailed policies being brought forward in secondary legislation.

“There will not be a rush to impose the new laws on employers and it is unlikely they will even become law within a year and will then likely be followed by a period before being enforced.

“We also expect many of the initial proposals for the Bill and subsequent legislation to be watered down to satisfy demands from business.”

It is understood that the Government is aiming to pass the Employment Rights Bill by next summer, but that the secondary elements introduced throughout the year could take longer.

One senior government figure also suggested that the passage of the Bill and subsequent legislation is dependent on the time it takes getting through the House of Lords.

Another government figure also conceded while the Bill is likely to be passed next summer “it’s not unusual for there to be implementation period”, which could result in much of the legislation not coming into force until some months after it becomes law.

This means people could be forced to wait more than a year for the right to not be contacted by their bosses outside working hours, to be given full employment rights from the first day in the job, and the right to request to work from home at least some of the week.

As one of Labour’s flagship policies coming into Government, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has faced significant pressure to water down and delay implementation of the new laws from a range of sectors.

While Mr Reynolds and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are understood to have sided with business over the changes to the Bill, it is believe they have clashed with Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who has been championing more stringent workers’ rights.

The hospitality sector is particularly concerned with a ban on zero-hour contracts, which it claims benefit its casual staff and business owners.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “The hospitality sector is renowned for providing flexible job opportunities for a range of people, and as a result the industry employs a high number of students, young people, and single parents who require more flexible schedules.

“It is therefore imperative that we’re able to continue to offer a wide range of contracts that meet the needs of our diverse workforce.”

As a result of lobbying from business, Labour changed its language on zero hour contracts ahead of the general election after years claiming it would ban them entirely.

In May, the party backtracked from an outright ban to a bar on “exploitative zero hour contracts”, with the revised proposal allowing employees to choose a zero-hour option.

It is also understood that the government may agree to exempt businesses with fewer than 10 employees from most of the new employment laws, with other smaller business potentially being given additional time to implement them beyond 2026.

Matthew Percival, future of work director at the business lobby group CBI, said: “The government deserves credit for its willingness to engage with businesses and unions.

“It’s that willingness to work together that can ensure the upcoming legislation successfully balances fairness with flexibility and avoids the unintended consequences that businesses have cautioned against.”

A Government spokesman said: “We are working in close partnership with business and civil society to find the balance between improving workers’ rights while supporting jobs and opportunities for people right across the country.”

How workers’ rights will be debated through parliament

While the new Labour government is set to bring its Employment Rights Bill to Parliament within the next few weeks, this is only beginning of what can be an exetremly long process.

Government sources have told i that the Bill is expected to become law by next summer, but there are many hurdles to overcome before it becomes an Act of Parliament and it is likely be even longer before the new laws within it are implemented. 

While Labour’s huge majority in the Commons means the Bill is highly likely to sail through the lower chamber, there is no guarantee that it will receive such a warm welcome in the Lords given that the government has almost 100 fewer peers than the Conservative Party. Tories are likely to object to many elements of the Bill, which they are may view as anti-business.

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Differences of opinion between the Commons and Lords can result in what is known as Parliamentary “ping pong”, with the Bill being rejected, or amendments added, and repeatedly sent back to MPs by peers.

A recent example of such a stalemate between the two Houses was when the Lords held up the former Conservative government’s Rwanda Bill, which spent months being delayed by peers before finally becoming law in April.

As well as potential delays from the Lords, there is a Committee stage for any Bill, whereby either MPs from a cross-section of political parities or the entire House debate the legislation. At this stage MPs have another opportunity to add amendments.

Once this hurdle has been overcome, the Bill goes to the report stage, when both Houses discuss any amendments. If none are tabled this will be a purely formal stage before the legislation enters its third reading in the Commons.

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This is another general discussion, but no amendments are possible. In the Lords, third reading will take place on a later day, and “tidying up” amendments can be tabled.

Once this is complete, both Houses must agree on the text of the Bill before it can become an act, and this is the point at which “ping pong” can add substantial delays to the legislation.

Only after this stage is complete can the Bill be sent to the King for Royal Assent and become law.

Even after the Bill has become an Act of Parliament there is yet another potential set of delays that can cause the implementation of the new laws within it. 

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Secondary legislation is used to fill in the details of Acts – or primary legislation. These details provide practical measures that enable the law to be enforced and operate in daily life. 

Secondary legislation can be used to set the date for when provisions of an Act will come into effect as law, or to amend existing laws.

Due to the time taken between a Bill becoming an Act and the provisions set out in secondary legislation is no guarantee that workers will see an strengthening of their rights before 2026.

BBC

Submitted

‘We have nothing to hide’

A COUPLE were shocked after a trip to their local shop saw them charged nearly £70 for a pizza.

Angela, 65, and Graham Harrington 66, went to the Broadcut Sainsburys in Fareham, Surrey, on Saturday to grab some wine and a few other items when they were handed the massive bill for more than £170.

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The pair then saw a 14in veggie pizza had cost them a whopping £69.82.

The couple, both retired with 10 grandchildren, were doing a “smart shop” on Angela’s phone, but Graham said, “it wasn’t so smart”.

When they got to the checkout, they were baffled at the £170 bill.

Angela said: “We’ve only got 12 bottles of wine at £10.50 each, with a 25% discount, and a few other items which went through fine.”

A 14” deep pan veg pizza drove the price up with its £69.82 price tag. “Where that came from we’ve no idea. We would never buy a vegetarian pizza. It was really really strange”, said Angela.

She added: “We didn’t buy any pizzas whatsoever. We called the staff member over and said ‘this doesn’t seem right.’”

The staff member quickly fixed it, but “everyone was looking amazed because they don’t sell pizzas at that price,” she said.

“It seems to be the talk of Sainsbury’s now, and when we went in there again today, they said, ‘Oh, here she is’.”

Angela said the staff “were astonished” and “had no idea what could have gone wrong; there was no explanation for it”

The couple were also astonished at the pizza’s price tag, adding: “How many people is that for?”

Angela warned: “If we hadn’t have looked to check that bill or if anyone else was doing their weekly shop, they could easily have paid the bill.

“You don’t know what else could have been added to your shopping without your knowledge.

She added: “When I told friends and family they thought it was quite funny and weird.

“But I have been warning people to check their shopping before they pay for it because you don’t know what might be on there”.

Angela confirmed the event hadn’t deterred them from Sainsbury’s.

The Sun has contacted Sainsbury’s for comment.

It comes after Sainsbury’s stunned shopper once again but this time, due to the arrival of iconic Christmas food on the shelves.

Sainsbury’s shoppers couldn’t believe their eyes when it appeared that mince pies were already on sale.

They took to X, formerly known as Twitter to share their discovery.

One customer wrote in the caption: “Stock up on your mince pies (take in Sainsbury’s a few days ago, so it was actually August!!!!).”

Another shopper who also took to X, wrote: “On Sept 1 I walked into my local Sainsbury and what did I see on the shelves?

“Mince pies – freaking…minced…pies.

“Bloody hell Sainsbury’s it’s not even October yet.”

Sainsbury’s is currently selling a pack of six 320g mince pies for £1.70 online.

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

In creating an opera out of Pushkin’s revered verse novel Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky said he had been attracted by the “everyday, simple, universally human emotions”. He shied away from a premiere in a major opera house, citing the lavish sets and stale routine that he saw in most.

There can be no worry about that here. In the Royal Opera’s new production in London, director Ted Huffman has gone for minimalism at its most extreme. For much of the evening there is nothing on the stage except for two hard-backed chairs, while a cloud of strangely immobile dry ice hangs in the air.

There can be pluses and minuses to this approach, but the minuses have won. Intimacy, so important in this opera, cannot be found on such a wide, bare stage and Huffman compounds that by having characters join in scenes where they do not belong. Tatyana dictates her letter — surely one of the most private moments in opera — to her sister. Then both of them show up uninvited for the duel at dawn.

The production’s updating is arguably less of a problem. Although Tchaikovsky was adamant that Eugene Onegin had to be set in 1820s Russia, these “everyday” people can exist in almost any period or place, the art deco chandeliers and casual, modern clothing here suggesting a time closer to the mid-20th century.

The main plus is that the Royal Opera has cast Pushkin’s young characters to the life. Kristina Mkhitaryan’s Tatyana credibly plays the naive teenager at the start and grows with elegance into the Prince’s wife in the closing scenes. Her voice is on the bright, hard side, but more than anybody else she fills this bare stage with feeling. The hushed intensity she brings to the heart of the letter scene is the high point of the performance.

Her Onegin is Gordon Bintner, who is tall enough to look down superciliously on everybody else and has mastered the most overbearing of loping gaits. As Onegin pointedly does not kill Lensky in this production, he comes across a touch more sympathetic after the duel scene. Bintner fields a lyrical baritone with beauty and resonance, and sings splendidly in the aria, but is not so imposing vocally elsewhere.

Liparit Avetisyan, familiar from Verdi roles with the Royal Opera, projects well as Lensky. Avery Amereau is the delightful Olga, not too heavy of voice, and Alison Kettlewell and Rhonda Browne are well contrasted as Madame Larina and Filipyevna. Brindley Sherratt took over at the 11th hour as Prince Gremin. Christophe Mortagne brings authentic French tones to Monsieur Triquet, but we did not need his clown alter ego haunting the action.

There have been a number of Royal Opera productions on an empty stage in recent years and their open acoustics can make life difficult for the singers. Huffman, happily, has taken note and makes sure they are at the front of the stage for anything important. This is helpful, as conductor Henrik Nánási does not spare the decibels, pushing pacing and passion to the limit.

There is a strange disjunct here. What we see is colourless, emotionally chill. What we hear from the orchestra is overwrought. Between the two, the touching story of Pushkin and Tchaikovsky is struggling to come together.

★★★☆☆

To October 14, rbo.org.uk

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) are a popular and convenient way to invest in mutual funds. But how do you decide how to allocate your investment across different asset classes? Enter the 70:20:10 rule, a powerful framework for asset allocation within your SIP strategy.

Understanding Asset Allocation

Asset allocation refers to the strategy of dividing your investment portfolio across different asset classes like equity, debt, and real estate (though SIPs typically focus on the first two). This helps diversify your risk and potentially improve your investment returns.

The 70:20:10 Rule Explained

The 70:20:10 rule is a simple yet effective asset allocation strategy for SIP investors. Here’s how it breaks down:

70% in Equity SIPs

This portion of your investment goes towards equity funds that invest in stocks. Equity funds offer high growth potential but also come with higher risk due to market fluctuations.

20% in Debt SIPs

This allocation goes towards debt funds that invest in bonds and fixed-income instruments. Debt funds offer lower risk and provide stability to your portfolio.

10% in High-Risk SIPs (Optional)

This is the most aggressive portion and can include investments in sectoral funds, thematic funds, or even a small allocation to gold ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). This segment has the potential for high returns but also carries significant risk.

Benefits of the 70:20:10 Rule for SIPs

Diversification & Risk Management

By allocating across asset classes, you spread your risk and potentially mitigate losses if one asset class underperforms.

Balance & Growth

The 70:20:10 mix offers a balance between potential growth from equity and stability from debt, catering to your long-term goals.

Flexibility & Customization

This rule is a starting point. You can adjust the percentages based on your risk tolerance, age, and financial goals.

Important Considerations

Risk Tolerance

Are you comfortable with market volatility? A higher risk tolerance might allow for a higher allocation to equity.

Investment Horizon

The 70:20:10 rule is generally suitable for long-term investors. As you approach your goals, you might want to increase your debt allocation for stability.

Financial Goals

Align your asset allocation with your goals. For example, a more aggressive allocation might suit a retirement plan decades away.

Beyond the 70:20:10 Rule

While the 70:20:10 rule is a valuable framework, remember:

Market Conditions

Consider current market conditions when allocating assets.

Professional Guidance

Consult a financial advisor for personalized asset allocation advice based on your unique financial profile.

SIPs and the 70:20:10 Rule: A Winning Combination

The 70:20:10 rule offers a structured approach to asset allocation within your SIP strategy. By combining this framework with the discipline and convenience of SIPs, you can potentially build a well-diversified portfolio and navigate your path towards achieving your financial goals.

Start Your SIP Journey Today!

Don’t wait! Embrace the 70:20:10 rule and the power of SIPs to embark on a confident and informed investment journey. Consult a financial advisor to craft a personalized plan and start building your wealth for a secure future!