By bizn_fun 
While the action on energy bills will provide some relief for heavy industry, there are broader concerns in the business community about the impact of the Employment Rights Bill.
One of Labour’s flagship policies, it is currently making its way through Parliament and would give workers certain rights from their first day of work.
These would include protection against unfair dismissal and the right to guaranteed hours – which businesses say could potentially make it riskier to hire someone.
The Federation of Small Business has said nine out of 10 of its members are worried about the bill, with two thirds saying they would recruit less staff in response to it.
Even the Resolution Foundation, the progressive think tank seen as having deep ties within the government, has cautioned the bill would “inhibit hiring” with “little obvious gain to workers”.
Peter Kyle said he did not see improved rights of workers as being “in contention with” the interests of business.
He said it would be implemented in a way that would contribute “towards the ability for businesses to make money by increasing productivity, by having workers that have security and rights that are fit for the age that we live in”.
However, he added he was “listening very closely” to employers and workers “to make sure there’s a probationary period that gets that balance right”.
For Sharon Graham, the legislation as it stands is “a burnt out shell”.
“I think I said at one point it had more holes than Swiss cheese,” she said.
“The reason that I said that, is that what looks good when you first look at it – and I’ve been a negotiator for 35 years, so I do look under the bonnet – fire and rehire [is] banned.
“But then what you realise that is, in most circumstances, if an employer said there was financial difficulty, if a council says there’s financial difficulty, then they can fire and rehire you.”