In July 2017, Matthew Taylor published his independent review on modern working practices, entitled ‘Good Work’.

The Government published its response to the review in February 2018 and launched consultations on how best to implement many of the review’s recommendations, including those on employment status, the rights of agency workers, increasing transparency in the labour market and the enforcement of employment rights. An overview of the responses to the consultation can be found on the Government’s website.

As a result, many of the measures have either been introduced or are scheduled for implementation.

The Government has now announced phase two of the Good Work Plan, which focuses on protecting vulnerable workers. This includes proposals to:

• give workers enhanced rights to tackle unscrupulous employers who do not comply with the law; and
• create a single labour market enforcement body, with powers to enforce minimum wage regulations, including ensuring agency workers are not underpaid, and the law relating to workers’ entitlement to holiday pay.

Business Secretary Greg Clark also confirmed that Matthew Taylor has been appointed as the interim Director of Labour Market Enforcement and said, “A new single labour market enforcement body will bring together our different enforcement partners putting all our expertise in one dedicated place, better protecting workers and enforcing their rights now and into the future.”

A consultation on the latest proposals has been launched. This closes at 11:45pm on 6 October 2019.