Legislative Consent: Employment Rights Bill

The Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 10 October 2024.

 

The long title to the Bill notes that it is a Bill “to make provision to amend the law relating to employment rights; to make provision about procedure for handling redundancies; to make provision about the treatment of workers involved in the supply of services under certain public contracts; to provide for duties to be imposed on employers in relation to equality; to provide for the establishment of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body and the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body; to make provision about trade unions, industrial action, employers’ associations and the functions of the Certification Officer; to make provision about the enforcement of legislation relating to the labour market; and for connected purposes.”

 

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls within the competence of the Senedd.

 

The Legislative Consent Motion for the Bill was agreed in Plenary on 15 July 2025.

 

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) – July 2025 

 

On 08 July 2025 the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary LCM (PDF 109KB). 

 

On 8 July 2025, the Business Committee pre-emptively agreed (PDF 38KB) that the committees should report on Memorandum No. 4 by 14 July 2025.

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 184KB) on 14 July 2025.

 

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) – April 2025

 

On 1 April 2025 the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF 96KB).

 

The Business Committee referred the SLCM to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 13 June 2025 (PDF 38KB).

 

On 13 May 2025, the Business Committee agreed to extend the reporting deadline for all committees to report on the Memoranda relating to the bill, by 20 June 2025 (PDF 42KB).

 

On 17 June 2025, the Business Committee agreed a new reporting deadline for the committees to report on all memoranda relating to the Bill, of 11 July 2025 (PDF 41KB).

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 304KB) on 19 June 2025. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 64KB) to the report on 15 July 2025.

 

The Health and Social Care Committee laid its report (PDF 298KB) on 11 July 2025. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 113KB) to the report on 15 August 2025.

 

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) – December 2024

 

On 19 December 2024 the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF 190KB).

 

The Business Committee referred the SLCM to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 7 March 2025 (PDF 38.5KB).

 

On 18 February 2025, the Business Committee agreed (PDF 41KB) a new reporting deadline of 28 March 2025.

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 201KB) on 26 March 2025. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 54KB) to the report on 30 April 2025.

 

The Equality and Social Justice Committee laid its report (PDF 19KB) on 28 March 2025.

 

Legislative Consent Memorandum – December 2024

 

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Bill before the Senedd on 5 December 2024 (PDF 151KB).

 

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 7 March 2025 (PDF 47.8KB).

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 201KB) on 26 March 2025. The Welsh Government responded (PDF 54KB) to the report on 30 April 2025.

 

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee laid its report (PDF 184KB) on 27 March 2025.

 

The Equality and Social Justice Committee laid its report (PDF 19KB) on 28 March 2025.