“Carers Trust welcomes much of this Bill, which will benefit many unpaid carers in the workplace. However, the Government is missing a trick by delaying its review of Carers’ Leave. Enhancing that leave by making it paid and doubling it to 10 years could help millions of carers stay in work. Two-thirds of them have had to cut back on working hours or give up their jobs, locking them out of the economic growth this Government says is its main priority. The review must be brought forward.
“A ban on zero-hours contracts would be welcomed by many, however social care providers are often forced to rely on them because of a lack of funding from local authorities. If zero-hours contracts are banned, social care providers must be given the funding to afford the increased costs that brings. The government must also be wary of any unintended impact on local carer organisations from the Bill’s reforms. Many of these organisations are already facing a challenging financial environment. These changes must be reflected in their funding, so they can continue to do their vital work.”