In Parliament today I highlighted the need for additional resources for workplace rights enforcement body ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) in light of redundancies linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy questions today, I said “Citizens Advice Bureau research shows that one in six workers are currently facing redundancy, and that parents, carers and those who shielded are twice as likely to be made redundant. Will the Government now provide additional emergency resources to enforcement bodies to ensure people are treated fairly, equally and safely during this extremely worrying time for workers?”

In response, BEIS Minister Paul Scully MP said the department would work closely with enforcement bodies to ensure they were resourced for long-term needs.

Without action, poor practice from employers and inadequate enforcement threatens to undermine progress in increasing the number of women and disabled people in work. The Government needs to address these concerns.