REC response to BEIS plans to widen the ban on exclusivity clauses

The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has confirmed their plans to widen the ban on exclusivity clauses to give the lowest paid workers in the UK the choice to work multiple jobs if they wish. The proposals will widen the existing ban on exclusivity clauses, to all contracts where the guaranteed weekly income is on or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week, which will impact an estimated 1.5 million workers in the UK. The new reforms will mean that workers in this group will have the opportunity to top up their income with extra work if they want to.

Kate Shoesmith, Deputy CEO reacted to the news, saying:

“Given the current state of the economy, widening the ban on exclusivity clauses is a good move to support the lowest earners in the UK afford the rising cost of living. Banning low-paid workers from having multiple jobs makes no sense in a market where there are several industries facing shortages for labour. But this is far from the only way to help workers during the cost of living crisis, and the government needs to do more to support workers and employers during this time.

“Widening the ban on exclusivity clauses helps to modernise the UK’s legislative framework around employment, aligning the law with modern working practices. We need further changes of this nature to reflect the modern labour market, and government should bring forward the Employment Bill to do this as soon as possible.”