Open consultation

Make Work Pay: duty to inform workers of right to join a union

• From: Department for Business and Trade, Kate Dearden MP and The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP
• Published: 23 October 2025

Summary

There’s a new duty on employers to inform workers of their right to join a trade union. This consultation is about how it should work in practice.

This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 18 December 2025

Consultation description

The Employment Rights Bill will introduce a new duty on employers to give a written statement to their workers, informing them of their right to join a trade union at the start of their employment and at other times.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is seeking views on how this new duty can be implemented effectively while minimising the burden on employers. This includes details on:

• what form the statement should take
• what content should be included
• the manner in which the statement must be delivered
• the frequency with which the statement must be reissued after the beginning of employment

This consultation invites views from trade unions, employers, workers and members of the public who are likely to be affected by this duty.

Documents

Consultation on duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union

PDF, 473 KB, 21 pages

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Ways to respond

Respond online

or

Email to:

tradeunionpolicy@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Published 23 October 2025