#zero-hours-contracts

#zero-hours-contracts

Women have effectively been working for free for the first month and a half of the year compared to men, said the TUC's general secretary, Paul Nowak. Imagine turning up to work every single day and not getting paid. That's the reality of the gender pay gap. In 2026 that should be unthinkable. With the cost of living still biting hard, women simply can't afford to keep losing out. They deserve their fair share.

Peter Kyle, the business secretary, said: This landmark legislation, now soon to be in law, will drag Britain's outdated employment laws into the 21st century and offer dignity and respect to millions more in the workplace. The bill will introduce rights to guaranteed hours and payment for short-notice cancellation of shifts, bar fire-and-rehire practices in most circumstances, grant paternity and parental leave from day one, and strengthen workplace trade union rights.

Hospitality businesses across London should be given a rent and business rates holiday to help them cope with the disruption caused by tube strikes, according to leading audit, tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. Andrew Sanford, a partner at the firm, said many restaurants, bars and cafe9s are located in Transport for London (TfL) properties, and urged the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, to step in with immediate support. "The Mayor should give them a rent and business rates holiday for the strike period if they are in affected postcodes," Sanford said.