Time magazine called 2024 ‘The Ultimate Election Year’, noting elections happening across more than 60 countries. Almost half of the global population will vote. By the middle of the year more than one billion had already voted in countries like India, Russia, South Africa, France, and the UK. The US presidential elections later this year have already thrown up some historic precedents and will be watched closely around the world.
Whilst not all elections are equal, the overriding message from elections so far is that people want change. Tougher economic conditions, concerns about climate, and more febrile geopolitics are worrying people everywhere. In response, formerly dominant parties are losing their position, new coalitions are forming, and in many Western countries more right-wing parties are making gains off the back of more nationally oriented agendas. Globalisation has been losing ground for some time and these trends do nothing to change that. Looking after our own in a more complex and volatile world seems to resonate.
The UK has seen a huge swing, with the Conservatives suffering the biggest defeat in their almost 200-year history and a transformed Labour party coming back towards the centre ground. But as polls had been showing, the overriding message was dissatisfaction and desire for change and not necessarily a positive endorsement for all that Labour have been proposing.
An important part of what the CIPD does is providing a voice for the profession and engaging with government on key areas of policy that impact work, workforce, and workplace. Key themes from Labour’s proposals support economic growth and increasing work opportunities for all, as well as changes to employment rights and legislation. We also expect a stronger voice for unions, with proposals enabling them to organise and gain recognition.
We’re encouraged to see the focus on skills, and the launch of Skills England which we hope will help bring together the fragmented skills landscape and join up policy a lot more across industrial strategy, migration, and local skills and growth priorities. It’s also good to see revision of the Apprenticeship Levy to become a broader Growth and Skills levy, which we’ve long campaigned for and know will be widely welcomed.
On employment legislation and the ‘New deal for Working People’, there’s much to consider, and we’ve surveyed employers and are holding focus groups with members to review key proposals such as the proposed day one rights. Other proposals include banning zero hours contracts, restrictions on fire and rehire, right to disconnect, strengthening statutory sick pay, enhancing minimum wage to become a living wage, and simplifying employment status. Together, these proposals stand to make far reaching changes to the employment landscape. We’ve commented on many of these ideas in the past and will continue to be a strong voice for our members and the profession.
Policy should be informed through proper process of consultation so that implications for all sizes and sectors of businesses can be understood, and best outcomes assured. We look forward to engaging further as the Government publishes its plans.
