Last week, I was proud to vote in favour of the Employment Rights Bill.

This is a landmark piece of legislation, introduced to strengthen protections for people in the workplace and tackle insecurity at work.

The vast majority of employees look after their staff well, but we need this change in the law to ensure that everyone is afforded the same basic rights.

As it stands, you can work for a company for 23 months, be sacked without explanation just before your two year work anniversary and you have no power to claim unfair dismissal.

One of the fundamental changes made by the Employment Rights Bill is to provide day one protection to staff against unfair dismissal.

Probation periods will continue, but every employee will know they can no longer be sacked without a reason. It’s a shift in power that is long overdue.

The bill bans exploitative zero hours contracts. It doesn’t take away flexibility for businesses or staff, but it introduces rights to guaranteed hours every week and mandates reasonable notice of shifts.

I’ve heard too many stories of employees waiting for a phone call just hours before they expected to start work, only to be told there was nothing for them.

The bill introduces compensation for short-notice cancellation of shifts too.

This is a family friendly piece of legislation, ensuring that workers have a right to unpaid parental leave from day one at a new job, in addition to the statutory protections already in place.

This feels especially important for residents in Welwyn Hatfield, where the median age is 37 (lower than the national average) and new parents are looking for opportunities to spend a few precious days or weeks at home with their new child.

The Labour Party was founded to defend the interests of people in work. How we work has changed dramatically over time, but the need for core rights and protections for employees is as important as ever.

The Employment Rights Bill will give businesses certainty and employees greater security. It’s the right balance for a 21st century economy.