UNIONS accused the government today of “turning its back” on working people after ministers failed to include an employment Bill in the Queen’s Speech.

The TUC said that the government’s broken promise to boost workers’ rights will see “bad bosses celebrating.”

In 2019, the government announced it would bring forward a new employment Bill to protect and enhance workers’ rights and promote fairness in the workplace.

Ministers also claimed the Bill would strengthen workers’ ability to obtain redress for poor treatment by creating a new, single enforcement body and introduce protections for low-paid workers and those in the gig economy.

But, despite committing to the Bill on at least 20 occasions, ministers have again failed to deliver on the promised legislation.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The Prime Minister promised to make Britain the best place in the world to work. But he has turned his back on working people.

“Today, bad bosses up and down the country will be celebrating.

“No employment Bill means vital rights that ministers had promised — like default flexible working, fair tips and protection from pregnancy discrimination — risk being ditched for good.”

National Education Union joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said the government has revealed its true attitude to employment scandals involving disgraced ferry firm P&O, fire-and-rehire tactics and zero-hours contracts.

Institute for Employment Rights director Ben Sellers said: “It was always fanciful to think that this government, with its hard-right, pseudo-Thatcherite ideology, was going to introduce an employment Bill to benefit the mass of workers in any meaningful way.

“But the way they’ve abandoned their manifesto commitments today certainly sends a very clear message about their priorities.”

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said the Tories had promised new protections, but instead are “giving a free pass to appalling behaviour.”