With the Labour Government now well-established in office, and through their first 100 days, we are starting to see their manifesto pledges coming to the fore through announcements and consultations. This page is your one-stop shop for all the key announcements from Government, including on the recently announced Employment Rights Bill.

We will provide REC members with detailed information on policy changes and announcements with a perspective on how they could impact the recruitment industry. Stay informed with the latest updates from the REC’s campaigns team as we continue to stand up for our sector, ensuring that your interests are represented to the Government.

Keep checking back for the latest insights and developments from the new government, particularly on the consultation tracker, which highlights all the opportunities for you to have your voice heard with government as well. 

    2024 timeline  REC Manifesto for growth  General Election Webinar  

Policy tracker   Government Consultaions

As we move further into Labour’s government, they have begun consulting on a number of topics regarding their manifesto commitments. This includes the Employment Rights Bill, changes to the NHS and the new Industrial Strategy. To help members keep abreast of the latest developments, all the consultations that have been released by the new government are collated below, with links to the government’s website for more information. As and when the REC has submitted our own response to each consultation, these will also be added to keep members informed of our work on these issues.

On the table below, consultations specifically related to the Employment Rights Bill and wider Plan to Make Work Pay are highlighted in italics.

This manifesto sets out four key themes, supplemented by focused recommendations aimed at supporting policymakers better understand the crucial role of the labour market, and how it underpins economic success.

General Election Webinar 

Watch back an insightful webinar from straight after the General Election with Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive and Kate Shoesmith RE Deputy Chief Executive. This webinar will delve into the main manifesto promises, what we know, and where the risks and opportunities lie for the recruitment and employment agenda.

 Watch more on demand 

Labour Party Manifesto 2024: "Change"

On Thursday 13 June the Labour Party unveiled their 136-page manifesto from the grand atrium of the Co-op HQ building in Central Manchester. Despite the attempt by a lone protestor to disrupt proceedings, Starmer talked through his 'no surprises' offer to Britain. 'No surprises' being that the Party had trailed out every big announcement that they planned to make in the weeks leading up to the launch. 

Key policy headlines 

• Labour's Plan to Make Work Pay remains in their manifesto, focusing on their commitment to ban 'exploitative' zero-hour contracts, ending fire and rehire, day one rights, and creation of a single enforcement body'. There was no explicit mention of creating a single worker status.  
• Labour committed to the creation of an Industrial Strategy, including an Industrial Strategy council which will collaborate with business. 
• Labour will scrap the apprenticeship levy, instead creating a new 'Growth and Skills levy'. 

For a fuller list of policies, click here.

Plan to Make Work Pay 

Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay still includes banning 'exploitative' zero-hour contracts and ending fire and rehire practices, which they claim will provide more job security and stability for workers. Introducing an entitlement to rights such as parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal from day one of employment still remain in the plan. Despite this, there is no mention of the creation of a single status of worker, as included in previous plans. Many of these announcements potentially present a step-change in Labour's position on workers’ rights compared to the last draft few months ago. This positive change is in part down to the REC's hard work behind the scenes engaging with the Labour Party to help them understand why some of their initial proposals would have been damaging for business, individuals and the economic growth we all want.  

The plan also has commitments to strengthen the role of trade unions in work-place relations and to establish a Single Enforcement Body. We raised the importance of a SEB in conversations with the Labour politicians so are glad to finally see a comprehensive compliance system around flexible employment practices on the horizon. We hope the expertise of the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate is retained. 

Industrial strategy 

In their manifesto, Labour commit to creating a new industrial strategy. This is something that the REC have long been calling for, including in our 2024 REC manifesto, Dynamic Labour Markets for Growth. Labour plans to work with industry on developing the strategy, including establishing an Industrial Strategy Council to provide expert guidance, ensuring representation from all regions, industries, and trade unions. They say that this council will play a pivotal role in steering long-term economic policy, moving away from 'short-termism' and towards strategic planning. They said they want to support sectors where the UK holds competitive advantages such as research, professional services, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries. We will want to help shape the work of the council. They are keen to say that their industrial strategy aims to create a "pro-business environment with a competition and regulatory framework which supports innovation, investment, and high-quality jobs". They mention aligning procurement and trade policies with strategic economic priorities. For REC members, understanding these proposals when there is more detail will be essential to navigate potential changes in regulatory frameworks and economic policies that could drive labour market demands. We will help with that 

Business taxation 

Labour have committed to providing ‘stability’ by holding only "one major fiscal event" each year. They have also pledged to cap corporation tax at 25% to reassure businesses against unexpected tax increases.

They say they aim to stimulate business growth by maintaining full expensing for capital investments and retaining the annual investment allowance for small businesses. They also propose significant reforms to the business rates system with the intention to "level the playing field between high street retailers and online giants". 

Skills 

Labour’s skills strategy emphasises aligning training with market needs to address the current skills shortage. They will establish Skills England to bring together businesses, training providers, unions, and government to meet the training requirements needed for their industrial strategy. They will collaborate with the Migration Advisory Committee to ensure training in England addresses the overall needs of the labour market. The REC has previously set out the need for skills and immigration to be more closely aligned. Labour have also pledged to scrap the apprenticeship levy and instead create a 'Growth and Skills levy'. We will await detail to see if levy funds can be used for modular short courses for agency workers.  In the manifesto there are also plans to devolve adult skills funding to Combined Authorities, with consultations on eligible courses, with the intention to ensure that qualifications offer "value for money" and meet market demands. 

Immigration System 

Labour plans to reform the points-based immigration system. The REC has highlighted the risk that restricting work-related immigration could constrain Labour’s growth goals by limiting access to essential workers. While fixing the skills system and providing better back-to-work support are crucial, these are not quick fixes for the current broader shortage of people. Labour's proposed reforms must balance immediate business needs with long-term workforce planning.  

Health & Social Care 

Labour set out plans to deliver an extra two million NHS operations, scans, and appointments every year, which works out at 40,000 more appointments every week, by incentivising staff to carry out additional appointments out of hours. "Regular, independent workforce planning across health and social care" are in Labour's plan, along with an NHS long-term workforce plan that trains the necessary staff to reduce patient waiting times. However, there is no mention in Labour's plans of how staffing procurement will work for the NHS or the necessary role that agency workers must play within this. Labour will also undertake a programme of reform to create a National Care Service, "underpinned by national standards, delivering consistent care across the country" and establish a Fair Pay Agreement in adult social care. 

Devolution 

Labour has committed to establishing a new "Council of the Nations and Regions," which will bring together the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and the mayors of combined authorities. This initiative aims to ensure that regional and national leaders have a direct influence on policy decisions. 

Overall there is a positive focus on growth in Labour’s manifesto which is key to lowering taxes and improving public services, with a particular look at a modern industrial strategy that supports the dynamic nature of work. It is also positive to see Labour’s plans for skills development and emphasising the need for flexible training options. Additionally, we note Labour’s commitment to modernising employment laws, enhancing clarity for workers’ rights, and supporting compliance in flexible employment practices. Finally, it is important that we take a balanced approach to immigration to ensure access to both UK and overseas talent, crucial for economic growth and addressing skills shortages in sectors like healthcare and public services. 

Discover other parties key policies from their 2024 manifestos. These are not complete manifesto summaries and focus on the key areas that are most relevant to REC members. These have been directly taken from the respective manifestos and the specific wording is not necessarily the view of the REC. 

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