LABOUR’S Employment Rights Bill must put power into the hands of workers, not employers’ human resources departments, trade unionists warned today.

A fringe meeting at the TUC Women’s Conference highlighted concerns about the forthcoming legislation, which will reach report stage in Commons next week.

BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley said the Bill could bring important improvements in key areas for female workers, but with her union’s members affected most by insecure work, she said that a full ban on zero-hour contracts was needed.