The UK government will not lower the standards of workers’ rights following Brexit, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said.
Mr Kwarteng was responded to a news story published by the Financial Times, indicating that the government was planning to scrap some workers’ rights that were brought in as part of the EU.
The report claimed the limit of a 48-hour working week could be cut, while rules on breaks, overtime and holiday were also being looked at.
Taking to Twitter, the business secretary said: “We are not going to lower the standards of workers’ rights.
“The UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world - going further than the EU in many areas.
“We want to protect and enhance workers’ rights going forward, not row back on them.”
Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said workers’ rights “should not even be up for discussion”.
The Financial Times said that Downing Street had approved the idea of reassessing workers’ rights, but the plans had not been approved at cabinet level.
A government spokesperson said: “We have absolutely no intention of lowering the standards of workers’ rights.
“The UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world, and it is well known that the UK goes further than the EU in many areas.
“Leaving the EU allows us to continue to be a standard setter and protect and enhance UK workers’ rights.”
