Member

The Government have described the Employment Rights Bill as pro-growth, but for many small businesses struggling to make ends meet, particularly in the hospitality sector, this clause will be the final nail in the coffin. The Minister may say it will become clear in due course just how light touch this new clause is as cases are brought before the employment tribunal. However, the Financial Times reported on 5 May that the backlog of cases in the tribunal has hit record levels, with a queue of almost 50,000 cases at the beginning of this year. That will rise significantly when this Bill comes into force, thanks to day one employment rights. To lessen the burden on the tribunal, I urge noble Lords to support Amendment 85, which would disapply Clause 20 for the hospitality sector, sports venues and higher education settings.