The Repeal Bill will ensure there is no immediate change to workers’ rights!

The Repeal Bill will ensure there is no immediate change to workers’ rights!

The Repeal Bill appoints the Governments plans for ensuring a functioning statue book is in place when the UK leaves the EU.

The bill goes into detail about:

– The repeal of the European Communities Act 1972

– How EU law will be transferred into UK law

– How corrections will be made to the statue book in the UK and how the law will function when the UK leaves the EU

Legislation that is EU-derived such as, the Working Time Directive, the Transfer of Under Takings Regulations (TUPE) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will remain in place once the UK officially leaves the EU.

The Repeal Bill which is 66 pages long and otherwise known as the European Union Withdrawal Bill was published on the 13^th July 2017 and has the intention of merging elements of EU law into the UK book of statute.

The bill has been constructed to provide as much confidence and stability as possible for business owners, workers and consumers regardless of the outcome.

Although the bill involves a conversion of EU law into UK law, several aspects of the law will not function properly when the UK leaves the EU, because, certain elements refer to EU institutions that will no longer be relevant in UK legislation. The bill will therefore provide the Government with power to rectify legislation in this event.

David Davis, Brexit Secretary states: “It is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that has ever passed through Parliament and is a major milestone in the process of our withdrawal from the European Union.”

Why is the Repeal Bill so important?

This bill is crucial as it is the UK Government’s primary means of providing the UK with certainty and what statute will look like following the UK leaving the EU. This measure has been suggested as critical for all players within the UK economy.

When the UK officially leaves the EU, the Repeal Bill will save and incorporate all EU law in and into UK domestic law. As well as this, EU law that has been incorporated into UK legislation will be amended or repealed post Brexit.

It has been suggested that this will achieve the Government’s aim of ‘taking back control’ of legislation in the UK.

For Employers

The UK has a history of ensuring that workers are fully protected in employment and equality matters. The Repeal Bill has established that these rights will remain when the UK leaves the EU.

This protects EU derived rights such as the Working Time Directive and the Equality Act 2010, ensuring these rights will continue to apply after the UK exits the EU. It has been suggested that this will supply certainty and continuity to employers and employees, building stability and allowing the UK to grow and thrive.

How Employment Law Services (ELS) can help

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Employers concerned with about any of the issues raised in this article can also take advantage of our Employment Law Services (ELS) free consultation service – call us today to arrange your free consultation – 0800 612 4772.