CIPD Calls for Partnership in Government’s First 100 Days

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has urged the newly elected government to prioritise partnership with employers and trade unions in its initial 100 days.

This call comes as the government embarks on major reforms in skills and employment policy.

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD, welcomed the new government and expressed eagerness to collaborate in strengthening the workforce. He emphasised the importance of partnership working, a key element in Labour’s plan to transform the economy. “The next 100 days will be a crucial test of that pledge as it starts work implementing a new skills agenda and the New Deal for Working People,” Cheese stated.

Navigating the New Deal for Working People

Cheese highlighted the complexity of the New Deal for Working People, stressing the need for genuine engagement with employers and the HR profession. These stakeholders will be essential in navigating changes to workplace regulations and practices. “Proposals to introduce day one employment rights, and other employment law changes, need to be worked through in genuine partnership with employers and trade unions, through consultation and potential compromise,” he noted.

Cheese suggested that a workplace commission could facilitate this collaboration by bringing together government, employer representatives, and trade unions to build consensus.

Growth and Skills Levy

The CIPD also supports Labour’s new Growth and Skills Levy, a reform the organisation has long advocated for. Cheese expressed optimism about the potential of a more flexible levy to enhance apprenticeship opportunities for young people and simplify the upskilling of existing employees. “We look forward to working with the new government to ensure that a reformed, more flexible levy can boost apprenticeship provision for young people and make it easier for employers to upskill their existing workforce,” he said.

Effective skills and employment policies are crucial for creating a thriving economy that benefits both individuals and businesses. Cheese reaffirmed the CIPD’s commitment to supporting the new government with expertise from the HR profession. “The CIPD is ready to provide its expertise, and that of our profession, to support the new government in shaping policies to create better work and better working lives,” he concluded.