Moved by
Lord Collins of Highbury
50: After Clause 17, insert the following new Clause—
“Workers’ protection and employment rights
(1) Regulations may not be made by a relevant national authority under section 13, 14, 16 or 17 unless the relevant national authority is satisfied that the regulations do not—
(a) reduce the level of protection for workers arising from the EU retained law to which the provision relates;
(b) conflict with any relevant international labour agreements to which the United Kingdom is party.
(2) Prior to making any provision to which this section applies, the relevant national authority must—
(a) seek advice from persons who are independent of the authority and have relevant expertise,
(b) seek advice from, as appropriate, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and relevant trade unions, and
(c) publish a report setting out—
(i) how the provision does not reduce the level of protection for workers in accordance with subsection (1), and
(ii) how the authority has taken into account the advice from the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(3) In this section “relevant international labour agreements” means—
(a) the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement,
(b) any Convention of the International Labour Organization ratified by the United Kingdom, and
(c) any provision of the European Social Charter 1961 accepted by the United Kingdom.”
Member’s explanatory statement
This new Clause creates additional conditions to be satisfied before the powers in Clauses 13, 14, 16 or 17 can be exercised where the subject matter of their exercise concerns law relating to protection of workers. It would also require the Government to seek the advice of the relevant independent expert statutory bodies.