Retained EU Law Act: what it means

Your rights at work

The UK Government’s Retained EU Law Act poses the following risks for vital protections for employees:

• Working Time Regulations appear to be at particular risk, including the right to a 48-hour week, minimum rest periods, and annual paid leave entitlements
• your right to paid maternity or parental leave could disappear or be changed
• protections against unfair treatment, such as being sacked or being overlooked for promotion, if you do take parental leave, may vanish
• employees may lose the right to a 20-minute rest break when working over six hours and the right to have a two-day break every fortnight
• if you are pregnant, you may lose the right to suitable alternative work on no less favourable terms 

Stakeholder reaction

Prospect

"Our members in safety critical industries such as energy are deeply concerned about the potential loss of EU-inspired health and safety legislation that underpins their confidence they will safely return home from work every day”.

UNISON

“At a time when people are experiencing huge financial pressure and public services are struggling with lack of funding and staff, the government should be creating stability and certainty – not a bonfire of workers’ rights and decades of legal wrangling.”