Labour has accused the Tories of “abandoning workers” as it has failed in its promise to tackle zero hours contracts.
Ministers pledged to address the precarious arrangements five years ago following a review into the modern world of work.
The Tories then vowed to take action in their 2019 election manifesto and it was announced that legislation would be introduced.
But the government has still failed to deliver on its promises.
Angela Rayner last night warned the Conservative Party’s “record on workers’ rights is one of broken promises and abject failure”.
A Labour analysis shows the government has only implemented six of the 26 policy recommendations it accepted from the Taylor Review of modern working practices.
Mrs Rayner added: “The Conservatives’ failure to deliver what they promised is a devastating blow to the millions of working people trapped in a cycle of low pay and insecure work.”
She insisted employers “desperately need new guidance and regulations to keep up with the modern realities of work”.
Matthew Taylor, who previously worked as head of the No10 policy unit under Tony Blair, was recruited by Theresa May in October 2016 to lead a review of modern employment.
He found zero hours contracts led to workers depending on their employers to provide shifts and warned that this could lead to income insecurity and a hesitance to raise concerns about working conditions.
In his recommendations, he said anyone who had worked for the same employer for 12 months should have a right to request a contract with guaranteed hours.
In the Government’s response, which was published five years ago today, ministers said they would accept this and “go further”.
At the 2019 election, the Conservatives promised in their manifesto that workers would get the right to ask for a contract with guaranteed hours after six months with an employer.
But ministers have failed to introduce this change. In response to a written parliamentary question by Mrs Rayner at the end of last year, business minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “We will bring forward legislation on this if parliamentary time allows.”
Last night when asked about the Conservatives' failure to deliver on their promise after five years, a party source bizarrely blamed Tony Blair.
"This Government supported workers through the economic crises Labour created while in office, and then through the Covid pandemic, spending billions on the furlough scheme. We have also cracked down on the abuse of zero hours contracts while they didn't act for 13 years, and boosted the National Living Wage to record levels," the Tory source said.
"Labour is risking people's livelihoods by putting the demands of their union paymasters over the needs of hardworking people. As always, they promise the earth but the British people know the party of protest will never take the tough decisions necessary to deliver."
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