King’s speech includes proposed bills to reform retail industry
Posted on in Business News
The King’s Speech in Parliament last week, which outlined 40 draft laws that the government is aiming to pass in the coming parliamentary session, included some that will directly affect retailers and their employees.
High up on the government’s agenda is a Crime and Policing Bill, which will make assaulting shopworkers a specific crime. As assaults and crimes committed against shopworkers across the UK have continued to rise in recent years, the retail industry has increased its calls for stricter intervention.
The Crime and Policing Bill will also introduce stronger measures to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
The government’s Growth and Skills Levy will look to reform apprenticeships and provide courses on functional and digital skills for workers.
An Employment Rights Bill will also ban the use of zero-hours contracts – common in the retail industry – and introduce new workers’ rights promised ahead of the general election.
This should benefit 3m retail workers in the UK and a further 2.7m in the supply chain.
Finally, a Planning and Infrastructure Bill will aim to streamline the process of approving new critical infrastructure.