Member

Amendment 107 seeks to exempt individuals employed by farming businesses from Clauses 1 to 13, 23 and 26. Despite our strong advocacy on behalf of farming communities, we cannot support this amendment because, throughout the passage of the Bill, we have consistently opposed the creation of a two-tier employment system that excludes certain sectors from core protections. In addition, we believe that some of the provisions the Conservatives propose for exemption should still apply to farm workers, including those relating to the right to request, which the Conservatives voted in favour of on Monday, and statutory sick pay. We also believe there are other struggling sectors, such as adult social care and early years providers, which are not receiving such special arrangements, so we cannot support Amendment 107.