Clause 14 of the Bill applies to the public sector and proposes a blanket prohibition on 'check-off', under which an employer can make trade union subscription deductions from wages payable to workers.
It has been argued that the prohibition on check-off arrangements would undermine trade unions and have the effect of employees on low pay ceasing to be trade union members, or pay extra bank charges connected with direct debits.
Lord Bridges of Headley confirmed that the prohibition on check-off would be scrapped 'to avoid further acrimony on this issue'.
Instead, the government has supported an amendment which allows check-off to continue where an agreement exists between an employer and a trade union which provides for:
Final amendments were made to the Bill during the third reading on 25 April. The Bill will now go to the House of Commons for consideration of the House of Lords' amendments.