Illegal migrant workers can sue for harassment under new rights act

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 07:58 · Archive

Under Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Act, workers without valid permits can now pursue harassment claims against employers.

Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Act came into force on Friday. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance clarifying that illegal migrant workers can pursue harassment claims against their employers in tribunals.

The EHRC guidance states that employers must take 'all reasonable steps' to prevent sexual and other harassment of employees. This represents a change from the previous standard of simply 'reasonable steps'. The watchdog's guidance includes a case study of a migrant worker without a valid work permit, explaining that the illegality of their employment contract will not prevent them from making a harassment claim.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the policy, calling it 'farcical' and arguing that Labour should prioritise stopping boats and securing borders rather than 'handing out even more rights to illegal immigrants'.

How it is being reported

• Angela Rayner gives even more rights to small boat migrants – they can sueWorkers now have the ability to sue their bosses for workplace abuse, regardless of their legal right to work in the UK.Daily Express · 2 Nov, 07:41
• Small boat migrants working in Britain illegally 'can sue their bosses under Angela Rayner's strengthened workers' rights laws'The human rights watchdog has published fresh direction on the 'legal obligations' for bosses to tackle harassment after Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Act came into force on Friday.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 01:47

In this story: Angela Rayner · Equality and Human Rights Commission · Chris Philp · Britain

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