THE Tories’ anti-strike laws could breach human rights protected under the Good Friday and Windsor Arrangements, British and EU post-Brexit watchdogs have warned.

More than 80 businesses, unions and civil society organisations have signed a joint statement as part of the UK and EU Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs).

The watchdogs hold the government and Brussels to account on their commitments under the post-Brexit deal, which stipulates that workers’ rights must not be lowered from the level they were at in 2020.

The statement said that the DAGs recognise and are monitoring concerns raised by the dozens of parties over the introduction of legislation such as the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act.

It added that the organisations have flagged the laws’ potential “impact on commitments to International Labour Organisation conventions and level playing field commitments” in the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA).

Adding that they had also emphasised the importance of maintaining commitments to the European Court of Human Rights, it said: “We stress the unique situation of Northern Ireland and the challenges consumers and businesses face.

“We reiterate the importance of the Windsor Framework and its good implementation to the TCA and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement to be respected in all their dimensions.”

The EU Commission recently put its concerns about the Strikes Act to the British government and the joint statement comes as Federico Ortino, professor of International Economic Law at King’s College London, warned the legislation could put Britain in breach of its legal obligations under the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

TUC research has found that one in five workers in Britain — 5.5 million — are at risk of losing their right to strike as a result of the law and the union body is holding a special congress to discuss the next stage of campaigning against the laws on Saturday.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “In their rush to attack unions, the government risks threatening UK trade with Europe.

“This legislation could put the UK in breach of its post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU. That could mean financial penalties on the UK.

“That’s bad for trade. And it’s bad for workers and their jobs.

“Ministers are playing fast and loose with international commitments because they want to distract from their appalling economic record.”