APSCo September ERB & Umbrella Updates

The latest updates on the Employment Rights Bill and and Umbrella Reforms for September 2025.

W/C 15th September 

Employment Rights Bill

• There will be a Westminster Hall debate on the impact of employment rights on businesses tomorrow (16 September 2025). The debate will be opened by Lincoln Jopp (Conservative, Spelthorne).
• With Peter Kyle as the new Business Secretary, there has been concern expressed by some that the Government might seek to water down the Employment Rights Bill. Unite’s General Secretary has pushed the Government to go further on workers’ rights and not to weaken the legislation.
• Meanwhile, some businesses have pushed the Government to walk back on some of the key measures, now Rayner is out of office.
• Unions are pressing Keir Starmer to make a populist case for the Bill, arguing that its sweeping protections are overwhelmingly popular across the political spectrum but risk being overlooked without stronger public messaging.
• The new Minister responsible for the Employment Rights Bill is Kate Dearden, who has been criticised by the right for her union background.
• Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson gave the keynote address to the TUC Conference on 9^th September, praising the changes being introduced as part of the Employment Rights Bill.
• The House of Commons will consider amendments from the House of Lords on 15^th October.

Umbrella Reforms

• Ahead of the Umbrella Company reforms coming into force from April 2026, APSCo submitted a response to Government on members’ behalf, which you can find here.
• APSCo also provided members with a pro-forma letter for MPs, which you can use to raise key arguments on the importance of regulating rogue Umbrellas.
• APSCo are running further webinars and in-person member meetings on Umbrella Companies. You can find details here, if you’d like to attend and get involved.