Member

Some may argue that the threshold of four hours is too low. If the Government believe that a different threshold is more appropriate, I will welcome that discussion and debate, but that debate we must have. What is indefensible is the failure to include any threshold in the primary legislation. This is not a minor technical detail to be determined later; it is fundamental to the scope and impact of the Bill. If it is the Government’s intention to profoundly change the nature of and opportunities for part-time work in the UK, the Bill should be clear on this subject, allowing business and employees the time they will need to prepare for the change. By leaving this crucial definition to secondary legislation, Parliament is being asked to approve potentially far-reaching changes to our labour market without debate, scrutiny or consent.