Green Party Advocates £15 Minimum Wage and Enhanced Worker Rights
The Green Party of England and Wales has announced a call for a £15 minimum wage for all workers as part of a comprehensive set of employment rights pledges. This initiative is included in the party's "Worker's Charter," which also proposes protections from unfair dismissal starting from the first day of employment, alongside complete bans on fire and rehire practices and zero-hour contracts.
Party leader Zack Polanski emphasized that the Greens intend to surpass the government's current measures on workers' rights, criticizing Labour's efforts as "weak and have been watered down."
The government has described its Employment Rights Act, enacted in December, as "landmark legislation" that introduces "stronger protections and the fairness every worker deserves."
Currently, the official minimum wage stands at £12.71 per hour for workers aged over 21, £10.85 per hour for those aged 18 to 20, and £8 per hour for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Labour's 2024 election manifesto included a commitment to eliminate "discriminatory age bands" by increasing the minimum wage for younger workers to match that of older age groups. However, ministers are reportedly considering postponing these plans following concerns from businesses that higher minimum wages could make hiring young people financially challenging.
The Green Party proposes implementing a £15 minimum wage for all workers, irrespective of age, by April 2027.
Additionally, the party advocates for public sector pay increases that at least keep pace with inflation, with larger raises targeted at the lowest-paid employees.
Other commitments within the party's agenda include the abolition of all "anti-union and anti-strike laws" introduced since 1979, the year Margaret Thatcher became prime minister. This encompasses the prohibition of secondary picketing or action, where workers participate in disputes unrelated to their own employers, a restriction established under Thatcher's government.
"The current Labour government's measures on workers' rights, while an improvement, are weak and have been watered down after pressure from corporate lobbyists.
The Greens are the new workers' party, and we will address the massive imbalance in our workplaces and give control back to workers."
Polanski made these remarks while highlighting the party's commitment to worker empowerment.
The Labour Party has been contacted for comment on these developments.
The government's Employment Rights Act includes provisions to ban "exploitative" zero-hour contracts by introducing the right to guaranteed hours based on the average hours worked over a 21-week period. However, employees who prefer zero-hour contracts—where hours are not guaranteed but workers can decline shifts—may continue under these terms.
The legislation also reduces the qualifying period to claim unfair dismissal from two years to six months. It categorizes fire and rehire practices—where an employer dismisses an employee and immediately offers a new contract on less favorable terms—as automatic unfair dismissal, except in cases where businesses face severe financial difficulties with no viable alternatives.
Some critics argue that these measures fall short of Labour's 2024 election manifesto promises, which included protection against unfair dismissal from the first day of employment and a complete end to fire and rehire practices.
The Conservative Party has pledged to repeal the Employment Rights Act if it gains power, labeling the legislation as "anti-business" and claiming it will lead to job losses. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has previously suggested that the minimum wage should not be increased further due to financial pressures on businesses.
Reform UK has also committed to scrapping the Employment Rights Act, with leader Nigel Farage expressing the view that the minimum wage is too high for younger workers.
The Liberal Democrats have called for an independent review to establish a genuine living wage across all sectors. They propose a 20% higher minimum wage for individuals on zero-hour contracts to compensate for income fluctuations.
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