Overview
- The Prime Minister visited IKEA on Purley Way with Croydon West MP Sarah Jones and Business Secretary Peter Kyle to discuss the reforms with staff.
- From April, workers gain day-one access to unpaid parental leave and a new Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave allowing up to 52 weeks after the loss of a partner.
- April changes also introduce a day-one right to statutory sick pay and raise the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.
- Further measures being put to Parliament include banning zero‑hour contracts, a right to guaranteed hours, and reducing the unfair‑dismissal qualifying period to six months, with some provisions under consultation.
- Starmer said the reforms could leave workers about £600 a year better off and tied the push to Croydon priorities, citing Pride in Place allocations of £20 million for New Addington and £1.5 million for the town centre alongside a new youth strategy.