Status of employment legislation following General Election announcement

5 June 2024 1 min read

At a glance

The General Election will be held on 4 July.
Parliament was dissolved on 30 May.
During the wash-up period a number of employment law amendments were passed.

Following the announcement that the General Election will be held on 4 July, Parliament was dissolved on 30 May. Any unfinished business is lost at dissolution. The period immediately before dissolution is referred to as wash-up and allows a government to enact essential or non-controversial legislation that would not otherwise complete its passage through Parliament because of dissolution. The government and the opposition reach agreements on the bills or parts of bills that should be hurried through their remaining parliamentary scrutiny. The legislation that is not passed by both Houses cannot be enacted.

During the wash-up period the following legislation has been passed:

Code of Practice on Fair and Transparent Distribution of Tips and Gratuities.
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (bringing into force s.6 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 on the role of the courts in relation to EU law).
Code of Practice (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Order 2024.
Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024.

However, the draft statutory instrument bringing in the tribunal power to order a 25% uplift on a protective award for failure to inform and consult where an employer has failed to follow the Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement does not appear to have been passed.