Public Affairs
Royal Mail’s final agreement on Universal Service Obligation reform
The Communication Workers Union (CWU)
members will now be consulted on the agreement.
Public Affairs
Public Affairs
The Bill initially proposed to give workers the right to claim unfair dismissal after their first day on the job. To compensate for the impact this would have on businesses, the bill put forward a lighter-touch nine-month probation period.
These policies have now been removed and replaced with a policy that gives workers the right to claim unfair dismissal after six months. This change means that it will be impossible for an employee to claim unfair dismissal if they have been in post for less than six months.
Other proposed policies under the Bill have remained, including the right to statutory sick pay (with no lower-earnings threshold), parental leave from day-one, and protections for zero- and low-hours workers.
A new enforcement body, called the Fair Work Agency, will monitor adherence to the Bill and offer combined oversight over regulators that currently work separately. Under this, probation periods, performance reviews, and early dismissals will remain workable, but more regulated than before.
The Bill, which had been facing delays due to disagreements in the House of Lords, now looks to progress quite quickly.
The Bill is currently in the final stages, with final wording being agreed upon by Parliament. After Parliament agrees on final wording, the Bill will need to receive Royal Assent from the King to become an Act of Parliament (law). This is expected to be before the parliamentary Christmas recess on 18 December 2025.
Changes will not be implemented immediately following Assent, with some measures in April 2026 and October 2026, and larger changes expected in 2027. Provided no further amendments to the Bill are made, from April 2026, employers will need to offer staff day-one rights to sick pay and parental leave among a range of other policies. This is also when the Fair Work Agency will be established. Later stages will include policies including the banning of “fire and rehire” practices, mandatory gender pay gap action plans, and protections for zero-hours contract workers.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Eilidh Wilson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, PPA (eilidh.wilson@ppa.co.uk)
The Communication Workers Union (CWU)
members will now be consulted on the agreement.
The EU announced that it is ending the “de minimis” customs duty exemption for goods worth less than €150 (£132). Beginning on 1 July 2026, a flat customs duty of €3 will apply to low-value e-commerce parcels under €150 entering the EU through IOSS.
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