"My Lords, this Government recognise the vital contribution that small and micro-businesses make to our economy. The Fair Work Agency will provide better support to the majority of businesses that want to do right by their staff to help them comply with the law. Assessing how best to support small …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"My noble friend is right draw attention to this matter, on which she has long been a thoughtful voice. In 2024, the Low Pay Commission estimated that some 20% of workers paid at or around the wage floor were underpaid the minimum wage. Analysis conducted by the Resolution Foundation suggests …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"The noble Lord is absolutely right to highlight this issue, and I welcome his continued engagement on it. The agency will provide straightforward, sector-specific guidance written with small and micro-businesses in mind. The requirements are not new—minimum wage, holiday pay and sick pay already apply. When changes are made, SMEs …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"The noble Lord is absolutely right. The Fair Work Agency will be set up as an executive agency independent of the Secretary of State. However, it will have to report to the Secretary of State for its actions and enforcement. It will bring the four current enforcement units together into …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"I thank the noble Lord for reminding us of his amendment in Committee. As far as I know, and I will obviously correct by way of a letter, the consultation is happening and statutory instruments—secondary legislation—will follow suit. We hope to get this up and running by April 2026...." Lord Leong - View Speech
"The noble Lord is right to raise that concern, and I will set out the Government’s position. As I said earlier, the agency’s approach is proportionate and risk based. It does not create new obligations, and it consolidates existing rules into a clearer and simpler system. Micro-businesses up and down …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"I thank the noble Lord for giving me an opportunity to set out the Government’s position. As I say, we recognise the pressures on small firms. That is precisely why the Fair Work Agency consolidates the current four enforcement agencies into one, thus setting up a simpler and clearer regime. …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"As I mentioned earlier, the intention is to have the secondary legislation in place and for this to be set up in April 2026. As for engagement with SMEs, we have stressed that there will be an advisory board within the Fair Work Agency made up of representatives from business …..." Lord Leong - View Speech
"Well, I am from the Government, and I am here to help. I am here to help those businesses that do well and behave themselves; for them, nothing will happen. If employers abuse the system, the Government will step in and take action.