LABOUR must now finish the job on promoting workers’ rights, the Trades Union Congress said today as the Employment Rights Bill finally became law.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak hailed it as “landmark day for millions of workers” as the Bill received royal assent following the end of a long stand-off between the government and the reactionary-dominated House of Lords.

MPs cheered as Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle made the announcement that the King had signed off on the package, which lacks the promised day-one protection against unfair dismissal — a victim of the Lords’ intransigence.

Instead that protection will now only kick in after six months. The Lords finally accepted the Bill only after bosses’ organisations the CBI and the Chambers of Commerce told them they should stand down.

A late concession by ministers also saw fire and rehire provisions softened, making the practice automatically unfair only for changes to certain core terms, including pay, required number of working hours, shift times and length, pensions and time-off rights.

Mr Nowak pointed out that the Act still contains “common-sense changes” like banning exploitative zero hour contracts, sick pay for all and much more.

He said: “These are hard-won rights that the union movement and workers have long campaigned for. For too long, we have lagged behind our European counterparts on workers’ rights.

“This legislation takes us closer to the mainstream. We are finally closing the door on the broken status quo defined by insecurity, poor pay and weak rights.

“It’s now vital the government finishes the job — ensuring workers feel the benefits of all these new protections as soon as possible.  

“That means watertight secondary legislation, which delivers new rights fully and quickly.”

Outgoing Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This is the biggest improvement to employment rights in a generation and can’t come soon enough.

“For far too long, the balance of power has been tipped away from working people. These measures go some way to shifting the dial the other way.”

Ministers will now consult with business on the implementation of some of the reforms.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This landmark legislation, now soon to be in law, will drag Britain’s outdated employment laws into the 21st century and offer dignity and respect to millions more in the workplace.”