Government ‘beginning an assault on workers’

The government has been accused of trying to sneak through a “major attack” on employment rights without having a debate on the floor of the House of Commons.

Trade union Unite said plans to increase the qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal from 12 months to two years will be “pushed through” today by an “obscure” parliamentary committee.

Ministers proposed the change last year in a bid to cut the number of claims, as part of wider reforms of the labour market.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “This is the beginning of a major assault on working people’s rights at work. This sneak attack will set employment rights back 13 years. We are urging fair minded MPs of all parties to oppose it.

“Britain is in the middle of the worst economic crisis of a generation.

“The Tories perversely believe that making it easier for bad bosses to sack workers is good for the economy. How does making it easier to sack people reduce unemployment?”