Open consultation

Make Work Pay: trade union right of access

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

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Summary

We're consulting on how the new legal framework for trade unions’ right of access into workplaces should work in practice. We're seeking views on the practical and operational details of the framework.

This consultation closes at

Consultation description

The Employment Rights Bill will introduce a new framework for trade unions to access workplaces physically, and to communicate with workers in person or digitally.  

This includes details on:

  • how unions will request access
  • how employers respond
  • factors the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) will take into account when determining whether access should be granted and on what terms
  • how the CAC is to come to decisions on the values of fines issued for breaches of access agreements

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

Documents

Consultation on right of trade unions to access workplaces

PDF, 540 KB, 36 pages

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Ways to respond

Respond online

or

Email to:

tradeunionpolicy@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Write to:

Trade Union Policy, Employment Rights Directorate
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY

Updates to this page

Published 23 October 2025

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