Member

We make no apology for repeating that there is much too much uncertainty in this Bill—uncertainty that weighs most heavily on small and medium-sized enterprises. This concern extends directly to the proposals regarding statutory sick pay. Let me be clear that we do not oppose statutory sick pay; on the contrary, we fully recognise its importance. It is critical that workers have financial support during periods of sickness, and that is a matter of basic decency and fairness. However, the reason for Amendment 75 is grounded in pragmatism, not ideology. Small businesses cannot plan, budget or comply if they are not given a clear understanding of the potential costs. Without that clarity, we are asking them to commit to obligations that they may be structurally unequipped to handle.