Manifesto: Labour to legislate on New Deal for Working People within 100 days – full list of workers’ rights reforms

A Labour government would introduce legislation for its New Deal for Working People within 100 days of taking office, the party’s manifesto has confirmed.

The manifesto, simply titled “Change”, says Labour will “stop the chaos and turn the page to create a partnership between business and trade unions” by implementing the plan to make work pay “in full”.

The plan includes banning “exploitative” zero hours contracts, ending fire and rehire and introducing basic rights from day one – including parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal.

READ MORE: GMB calls manifesto ‘vision of hope’ but Unite says ‘not enough’

Labour’s manifesto also said the party would make sure the minimum wage is a “genuine living wage” and would remove “discriminatory” age bands so all adults are entitled to the same minimum wage.

The manifesto did not explicitly pledge to repeal recent Tory anti-trade union legislation, but did signal it would implement in full a recent policy document setting out the New Deal – which did reference repeal.

READ MORE: Labour manifesto launch: Live updates, reaction and analysis

The New Deal for Working People document contains many wide-ranging measures, but ones singled out for inclusion in the manifesto are:

• Full consultation with businesses, workers, and civil society before legislation is passed
• Banning exploitative zero hours contracts
• Ending fire and rehire
• Introducing basic rights from day one to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal.
• Single Enforcement Body which is to ensure employment rights are upheld.
• Change the remit of the independent Low Pay Commission so it accounts for the cost of living for the first time. 
• Labour will also remove the discriminatory age bands, so all adults are entitled to the same minimum wage

Keir Starmer unveiled the party’s vision for government in a packed-out event in Manchester. You can watch and follow updates and reaction on the event live here.

Find out more through our wider 2024 Labour party manifesto coverage so far:

READ MORE: Labour manifesto launch: Live updates, reaction and analysis

READ MORE: Full manifesto costs breakdown – and how tax and borrowing fund it

READ MORE: Key manifesto themes and headline policies in brief

READ MORE: Labour vows to protect green belt despite housebuilding drive

READ MORE: Watch as Starmer heckled by protestor inside with ‘youth deserve better’ banner

READ MORE: GMB calls manifesto ‘vision of hope’ but Unite says ‘not enough’

READ MORE: Manifesto commits to Brexit and being ‘confident’ outside EU

READ MORE: Labour to legislate on New Deal for Working People within 100 days – key policies breakdown 

READ MORE: Labour to give 16-year-olds right to vote

READ MORE: Starmer says ‘manifesto for wealth creation’ will kickstart growth

READ MORE: Dodds: ‘Our manifesto is a fully funded vision, while Tories offer a Christmas tree of gimmicks’

Read more of our 2024 general election coverage here.

If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this or any other topic involving Labour or about the election, on record or strictly anonymously, contact us at [email protected]. 

Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for a briefing everything Labour, every weekday morning. 

If you can help sustain our work too through a monthly donation, become one of our supporters here.

And if you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or content, email [email protected].