OpenConsultation consultationoutcome

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

From:
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Department for Business and Trade, Kate Dearden MP and The Rt Hon PeterJonathan KyleReynolds MP
PublishedPublished:
23 October 2025
Last updatedupdated:
21
25 NovemberSeptember 2025 2026 — See all updates
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Government response to the consultation on duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union: executive summary

HTML

Government response to the consultation on duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union

PDF, 297 KB, 27 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Impact assessment: employer duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union

PDF, 441 KB, 36 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Detail of outcome

This consultation sought views on the practical detail of how the duty should operate to ensure the duty is clear, proportionate and workable for both employers and workers.

In total, the consultation received 307 responses from a wide range of interested parties.

The government response summarises the issues raised by respondents and sets out the government’s position.

Original consultation

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 closesran atfrom
to

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, 474 KB, 21 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format. format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Options assessment: Workers’ right to be informed by their employer of their right to join a trade union

PDF, 546 KB, 39 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Ways Request toan respondaccessible format

Respond

If online

or

Emailyou to:

tradeunionpolicy@businessandtrade.gov.ukuse assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk

. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.