Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022-2023 Introduced to House of Commons
The Government has introduced the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022-2023 (the Bill) to the House of Commons. The Bill could prompt a significant shake-up of our established employment rights.
What Is the Bill Intended to Do?
Broadly speaking, the Bill is intended to confer more power on the UK Government to operate free of the constraints of retained EU law. Retained law is law that derives from the European Union, and which was retained within UK domestic law following Brexit. Under the Bill, EU-derived subordinate legislation and retained EU legislation will be revoked across the UK at the end of 2023. This could happen automatically, although the Bill also sets out a power to preserve specific laws, as well as a power to extend the designated revocation date in certain circumstances.
Much of our UK employment law derives from EU law, including TUPE and the Working Time Regulations (which contain our holiday rights and set out the parameters of the working week). The Government is yet to comment on what specific pieces of legislation it might seek to remove or retain if the Bill is passed. We will report on any major developments as the Bill is scrutinised by Parliament.
