By raising wages, strengthening workers’ rights, and making jobs more secure, this UK Labour government is putting more money in the pockets of working people and delivering the economic growth our country needs.
For 14 years, the Conservatives failed working people. They crashed the economy, leaving the average worker £700 worse off than in 2010. They pitted workers against businesses, overseeing the worst strike disruption in decades while eroding job security. They described maternity pay as “excessive” and the minimum wage as a “burden”.
They haven’t changed.
This UK Labour Government is determined to undo the damage and build a fairer economy—one where work pays.
We have wasted no time in delivering for working people. Within weeks of entering office, we delivered the biggest ever cash injection to the National Minimum and National Living Wage, ensuring that 3.5 million workers see a real difference in their pay packets. For too long, wages have stagnated while the cost of living has soared. No one should work full-time and still struggle to put food on the table.
We are also fixing the broken system that allowed exploitation to flourish under the Tories. That’s why we are:
Cracking down on exploitative practices: For years, bad employers have used fire and rehire tactics to force workers onto worse pay and conditions, or trapped people in zero-hour contracts that deny them stability and security. Labour is ending these practices, giving workers the certainty they need to plan their lives and support their families.
Delivering stronger rights from day one: Under previous governments, workers had to wait years to gain proper protections. Labour is changing that. From the very first day on the job, workers will have rights to parental leave, strengthened neonatal illness and pregnancy protections, and protection from unfair dismissal. If you work hard, you deserve security—it’s that simple.
Boosting pay and protecting wages: We are also strengthening collective bargaining and making sure unions have a stronger voice in the workplace. When workers and unions have the power to negotiate fair wages, everyone benefits. Labour is ensuring that businesses compete on quality, not by the size of their pay packets.
Enforcing workers’ rights: Having strong rights on paper is meaningless if they aren’t enforced. That’s why have committed to setting up a Fair Work Agency and a Single Enforcement Body to make sure employers follow the rules. We are putting a stop to the culture where unscrupulous bosses think they can disregard the law without and get away with it. Under this Labour government, workers will have accessible avenues for justice when they are treated unfairly.
This is the difference between a UK Labour Government and a Conservative one. While they drove down wages and the economy stagnated under their watch, we are delivering an economy that rewards work, not just wealth.
Labour is making work pay.