The Government was today accused of piling on red tape to businesses as ministers began putting into place new ‘day one’ rights for workers.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his administration was putting ‘dignity back at the heart of work’ as he unveiled landmark changes to parental leave. 

The reforms, part of Labour‘s flagship workers’ rights package, include unpaid parental leave from the first day in a new job.

The Government said this will give an extra 1.5 million parents increased flexibility to share childcare responsibilities.

Bereaved partners are also set to gain further rights to paternity leave from April under separate new laws.

This will mean fathers and partners who lose their partner before their child’s first birthday will be eligible for up to 52 weeks of leave.

Some 390,000 people are estimated to be out of work because of caring responsibilities, including parents, but want a job, according to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

The Tories said they supported ‘hard-working families and parental leave rights’. But they also warned Labour’s full package of reforms ‘goes far beyond protecting parents’ as they continued to criticise the recently-passed Employment Rights Act.

Day-one rights to statutory sick pay, a ban on zero-hour contracts and new protections for new mothers and pregnant women are also included under the landmark Employment Rights Act.

The Government previously abandoned day-one workers’ rights against unfair dismissal in a bid to get the legislation through Parliament.

It now intends to introduce the right after six months of service instead.

Senior Conservative MP Andrew Griffith, the shadow business and trade secretary, said: ‘Whilst we support hard-working families and parental leave rights, the 330-page Employment Rights Bill goes far beyond protecting parents.

‘It piles on red tape, taking Britain back to the 1970s and risks dragging thousands of small businesses into costly employment tribunals.

‘The impact is already clear, with new surveys showing employers are holding back on hiring because of Labour’s choices, creating uncertainty and higher costs.

‘This is an Unemployment Bill that will destroy jobs, not protect them.

‘By opening the door to widespread strikes and giving unions greater control over workplaces, Labour is damaging growth. Only the Conservatives will get Britain working again.’

The changes to parental leave were due to be laid in Parliament on Monday after the Employment Rights Act received Royal Assent in December, the Government said.

In a statement, Sir Keir said: ‘The changes we’re bringing in will mean every new parent can properly take time off when they have a child, and no one is forced to work while ill just to make ends meet.

‘This is about giving working families the support they need to balance work, health and the cost of living. We’re delivering a modern deal for workers.

‘Stronger sick pay, parental leave from day one, and protections that put dignity back at the heart of work. Because when we respect and reward those who keep Britain running, we build a stronger economy for everyone.’

Under the parental leave reforms, fathers will get the right to paternity leave from day one on the job, as a mother would with maternity leave. 

Previously, fathers were required to have worked for their employer for 26 weeks before they would become eligible.

In other changes, all parents will now be eligible for unpaid parental leave from day one, having previously had to have worked for a year.

It meant they would lose any right to time off if they left their job to work for a new employer.

Elsewhere, bereaved parents will be entitled to further rights to paternity leave under separate new laws. This means that any father whose partner dies before the child’s first birthday can now take 52 weeks of leave.

Previously, they were not automatically entitled to paternity or parental leave even if they became the sole carer of their child.

There will also be a new statutory right to unpaid bereavement leave for any parent from day one, which will be expanded to include pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: ‘Britain will now be brought into line with other countries where workers already have better protections. And crucially, the legislation will give working people the higher living standards and secure incomes that are needed to build a decent life.

‘Good employers will also welcome these changes – the Act protects them from competitors whose business models are built on low-paid, insecure employment.’

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: ‘No one should have to worry about whether they can take time off when their baby arrives, or lose pay simply because they’ve fallen ill.’

‘They will ensure our drive for growth reaches everyone through providing secure, fair-paying jobs and giving support to people when they need it most,’ he added.