Pledges from the Conservatives:
- To introduce a 'firmer and fairer' Australian-style points-based immigration system. This would require most people to have a clear job offer before they arrive in the UK, reduce the number of low-skilled migrants coming to the country, and treat EU and non-EU immigrants equally.
- The UK would leave the EU no later than January 2020. It also said that post-Brexit trade relations with the EU would not be extended beyond the end of 2020.
- Introduce a National Skills Fund as the first step towards a 'Right to Retrain' scheme.
- Review IR35 ahead of its rollout to the private sector next year.
- Recruit 50,000 more nurses (including the 18,500 existing nurses the government hopes to persuade to remain in the workforce).
- Raise the threshold for paying National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from £8,632 to £9,500 in April 2020, with an ultimate ambition to raise it further to £12,500.
- Introduce a National Living Wage of £10.50 for over-21s within the next five years.
- To not raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT.
- Recruit 20,000 new police officers.
- To cut business rates by 50% for smaller pubs, shops and cinemas as part of an effort to re-energise the high street and promote local businesses.
- To crack down on tax evasion and avoidance, including passing a law doubling the prison term to 14 years for individuals convicted of the worst forms of tax fraud.
Pledges from Labour:
- Reduce working hours to 32 hours per week (or four days) across the economy, with no loss of pay.
- End the opt-out provision for the EU Working Time Directive. An independent Working Time Commission would also be established to advise on raising minimum holiday entitlements and reducing working time.
- Migration would be 'subject to negotiations'.
- Introduce a £10 National Living Wage for all employees.
- To end 'bogus' self-employment and ban zero-hours contracts.
- Create new jobs through a transition to a green economy, tackling both the need for skills development and the climate crisis. A Foundation Industries Sector Council would provide plans for those working in industries such as steel and glass, and help them transition to green technologies.
- Ensure public-facing workers are protected by toughening the law against abuse and violence.
- Sectoral collective bargaining would be rolled out across the economy.
- Implement a requirement of 10% of employee ownership on large firms.
- Strengthen protections for whistleblowers and rights against unfair dismissal for workers.
- Introduce Universal Basic Income trials in Sheffield and Liverpool.
Pledges from the Liberal Democrats:
- A new 'dependent contractor' employment status would be established, which would sit between employment and self-employment.
- Encourage employers to introduce a living wage through a ‘good employer kite mark’.
- To set a 20% higher minimum wage for people on zero-hours contracts at times of normal demand to compensate them for the uncertainty of fluctuating hours of work.
- Launch a £10,000 'skills wallet' scheme for every adult in England to spend on education and training throughout their life.
- A commitment to make flexible working open to everyone from day one in a job with a requirement for employers to advertise jobs as such.
- Give employees the right to request shares.
- Provide support for the UK tech sector by teaching 'core skills' in logic and verbal reasoning.
- Reform immigration rules including enabling industry-sponsored work visas.
- To focus on wellbeing through appointing a minister for wellbeing and teaching emotional resilience in schools.
