Thursday April 9th 2026
Written by Midlothian View Editor, Phil Bowen
Local MP Kirsty McNeill has welcomed what she says are a series of major improvements to workers’ rights now coming into force, delivering stronger protections and higher pay for people across Midlothian.
From 6 April, workers will benefit from reforms introduced through the UK Labour Government’s Employment Rights Act, including:
– The introduction of ‘Day 1’ paternity leave and immediate access to unpaid parental leave from the start of employment.
– Reforms to Statutory Sick Pay, including the removal of the Lower Earnings Limit and the waiting period, ensuring support from the first day of illness.
– Strengthened collective redundancy rights, including doubling the maximum period for protective awards.
– The creation of Bereaved Partners’ Paternity Leave, enabling fathers and partners to take up to 52 weeks of leave where the mother or primary adopter dies within the child’s first year.
– Enhanced protections for workers who blow the whistle on sexual harassment.
As part of wider action to make work pay and ease the cost of living, the MP also welcomed increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, which came into effect on 1 April.
These uplifts will see a pay rise of £900 more per year for full-time workers on the National Living Wage and up to £1,500 for those on the National Minimum Wage.
Kirsty McNeill MP said:
“This month marks a defining moment for workers across Midlothian, who will now benefit from better pay and stronger rights at work.
“People here deserve security in their jobs, fair pay for the work they do and the reassurance that if they are unwell, they will be protected. That is exactly what these changes, introduced by our Labour Government, deliver.”
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