Employment and immigration | Regulatory Outlook June 2022

New inquiry into the UK labour market: is current employment law fit for purpose?

We previously commented on the new Future of Work review announced following the Queen's speech in May. Following on from this, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has launched an inquiry into the UK labour market. The committee wishes to understand whether the UK has enough workers with the right skills in the right places to do the jobs required in our economy, including issues related to an ageing population, migration changes and the impact of technology. The committee also seeks to understand whether current employment law is fit for purpose or requires reform.

The areas for comment, as detailed in our Insight, are:

• The state of play in the UK labour market post-Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on recruitment, skills shortages and the growth of the labour market
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and technology in the workplace
• Workers’ rights and protections
• Employment status and modern working practices five years on from the Taylor review
• The impact of an ageing population on the labour market

Submissions are welcomed up to 8 July 2022.