Tenth Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets

The government response focuses on the lack of private investment in workplace training and reskilling, outlining government actions on tax frameworks and skills system accessibility, and announcing guidance for businesses on AI skills to be published this summer. It does not address the recommendation to introduce requirements for impact assessments or worker consultation and notification regarding new workplace technologies, particularly surveillance.

The government describes existing AI initiatives and states the Director of Labour Market Enforcement will consider AI threats, explicitly referring the specific recommendation for budget consideration to the DLME rather than committing to direct government action.

The government's response highlights existing workers' rights and upcoming flexible working legislation, as well as new guidance on employment status. However, it does not commit to establishing the recommended taskforce to assess technology's implications for workplace labour laws.

The government's response outlines its support for the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill and discusses the utility of zero-hours contracts, but it does not address the recommendation to commission research on maternity discrimination.

The government's response focuses on its actions to deter 'fire and rehire' practices, including publishing a draft statutory code of practice for consultation, but does not address the committee's specific recommendations to extend the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill.

The government states it is reviewing the creation of a Single Enforcement Body due to limits on parliamentary time, while committing to continue investing in existing labour market enforcement bodies and supporting their collaboration.

The government's response addresses a recommendation regarding menopause leave policy, stating it does not believe a specific policy is necessary, but this response is entirely unrelated to the committee's recommendation about Employment Tribunal backlogs, action plans, or time limits.

The government's response details DWP projects on updating labour market evidence, moving Jobcentre services online, and initiatives for older workers and menopause employment, but entirely fails to address the committee's specific recommendations regarding the scrutiny process and reporting requirements for the Retained EU Law Bill.

The government's response details the success of Automatic Enrolment for pensions and its ambition to expand it to younger workers and lower earners, noting its support for a Private Members' Bill to achieve this, but it completely ignores the committee's recommendation regarding a menopause leave policy.

The government details its commitment to developing digital skills across the UK through initiatives like the UK Digital Strategy and reforms to the adult digital offer, and highlights the role of public libraries in digital inclusion. However, it does not directly address the committee's conclusion that new technologies should be implemented in partnership with workers and trade unions.

The government response discusses the use of computer evidence in criminal and civil proceedings, Common Law rules, and the Horizon case, stating that the government is not minded to amend related statutory provisions or rules. This response is entirely unrelated to the committee's recommendation regarding investment in workplace training and reskilling.

The government's response discusses AI regulation capabilities and central monitoring functions, completely unrelated to the Lifelong Loan Entitlement review requested by the Committee.

The government's response focuses on the ICO's draft guidance on workplace monitoring and the EHRC's work on human rights and new technology, rather than addressing computer evidence in general criminal/civil proceedings or prioritising it at the Law Commission.

The government's response discusses the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act and ongoing work on maternity discrimination data, completely ignoring the recommendation for AI regulators to report their capacity and resource needs.

The government's response details the evaluation of the Shared Parental Leave scheme, its take-up rates, and an online planning tool, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's conclusion on AI, automation, and workforce upskilling.

The government's response details childcare reforms and new parental/carer protections enacted through recent legislation, completely ignoring the recommendation to consult on an enforceable code of practice for workplace surveillance technology.

The government's response details a call for evidence and subsequent consultation on regulating umbrella companies to address non-compliance, entirely unrelated to the Shared Parental Leave scheme.

The government's response outlines employer duties under health and safety legislation, providing guidance for managing shift workers, which is unrelated to the recommendation to consult on incentivizing parents to have children and protecting their careers.

The government states commitment to workers’ rights but cites parliamentary time limits for substantial changes like a Single Enforcement Body. It provides general figures on investment and staffing for existing labour market enforcement bodies but does not specifically update on the three commitments from the former Secretary for Transport as requested.

The government's response discusses the Retained EU Law Bill and ongoing consultations to simplify Working Time Regulations and holiday pay calculations, but it does not provide the requested current number of inspectors in the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, GLAA, or the National Minimum Wage Team.

The government welcomes acknowledgement of its support for the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill and intends to make the right to request flexible working apply from the first day of employment, but this response is unrelated to the committee's conclusion about the Retained EU Law Bill and the need for careful review of EU retained employment law.

The government response highlights public sector apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps as ways to build talent pipelines and address skills needs. It does not directly address the observation regarding the mandate or resourcing of jobcentres for supporting over-50s.