Nick Thomas-Symonds MP has today criticised the Government for blocking a Private Members Bill that would ban exploitative employers using fire and rehire tactics to cut the pay and conditions of workers.

Thousands of workers across the country, including in companies such as British Gas, Clarks shoes, and Tesco, have been threatened with being made redundant and then re-employed on poorer terms.

Polling carried out by the Trade Union Congress in January found that one in ten workers have been told to re-apply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions since the start of the pandemic. BME and young workers were particularly likely to have been subjected to fire and rehire.

Despite the Prime Minister himself calling fire and rehire unacceptable, the Government talked out the Bill meaning it will not make any further progress. Labour have long called for fire and rehire to be stamped out as part of their wider new deal for working people which includes basic rights for all workers from day one of the job, increased sick pay, and a minimum wage of at least £10 an hour.

Supporting the Bill introduced by Labour’s Barry Gardiner, the Torfaen MP said: ‘It is shameful that the Tories blocked this Bill that would have outlawed the awful fire and rehire practice, allowing unscrupulous bosses to intimidate workers on to poorer pay and conditions.

I was proud to support Barry Gardiner’s bill today, and as the party of working people, a Labour Government would ban fire and rehire to give workers the vital protection they need.’