Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 July 2026
Letter from the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection relating to workplace monitoring technologies, 8 July 2026
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: Employment rights
Summary
Minister for Employment Rights Kate Dearden announces a 12-week public consultation on workplace monitoring technologies, launching 8 July 2026. The consultation seeks views on ensuring these digital tools—used by employers to track worker activity—are deployed transparently, proportionately, and fairly, while balancing business innovation. This forms part of the Government's Plan to Make Work Pay, updating 20th-century employment law.
Key findings
- Government launching 12-week public consultation on workplace monitoring technology, closing 30 September 2026
- Consultation will gather evidence on current usage of monitoring technologies, existing legal requirements, and worker engagement practices
- Consultation seeks to balance transparency and worker involvement with business innovation and productivity
- Government committed to implementing Plan to Make Work Pay in partnership with businesses, trade unions, public sector employers, and civil society
- Minister indicates willingness to engage further with the Committee on employment rights implementation
Tone
ProceduralTopics
employment-rightsworkplace-regulationworker-protectiondigital-technologylabour-standards
Key actors
Kate Dearden MP, Liam Byrne MP, Department for Business and Trade, UK Government
Notable line
“The Government is launching a public consultation which seeks views on how to support the responsible adoption of these technologies, ensuring they are used in ways that are transparent, proportionate and fair …”
Key Quotes
“The UK's employment laws were mostly a product of the 20th century. Until we passed the Employment Rights Act in 2025, they had not kept up with how businesses now employ people nor how people experience working lives today.”
“Workplace monitoring technologies refer to digital tools used by employers to collect, track, analyse or make decisions based on information about workers and their activities.”
“The Government is launching a public consultation which seeks views on how to support the responsible adoption of these technologies, ensuring they are used in ways that are transparent, proportionate and fair, while enabling businesses to innovate and grow.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗