A WIRRAL MP has renewed calls for the government to ban 'fire and rehire' - a practice whereby employers dismiss workers in order to re-employ them on worse terms and conditions.

Margaret Greenwood was speaking during a debate in Parliament in which she highlighted that the practice seems to have become more common since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

In January this year, the Trades Union Congress estimated that, since March 2020, nearly one in 10 workers have been told to reapply for their job on worse terms and conditions.

Their research showed that young people have been particularly badly affected, with nearly a fifth of 18 to 24-year-olds who were surveyed saying that their employer has tried to rehire them on inferior terms during the pandemic.

Also in January, a motion tabled by the Labour Party called on the government to set out to Parliament a timetable to introduce legislation to end fire and rehire tactics.

The motion was carried by 263 votes to zero, with Conservative MPs abstaining. As the vote came at the end of an Opposition Day debate, the result was not binding on the government.

Speaking after the debate, Margaret Greenwood, Member of Parliament for Wirral West, said: "A number of Wirral West residents have written to me describing fire and rehire as abusive, appalling and immoral. They are absolutely right.

"It is no way to treat dedicated, loyal working people. Many of those affected have worked for companies for years, only to be cast aside and offered worse terms and conditions.

"It is shameful that any employer would engage in these cynical tactics.

"Government ministers have described fire and rehire as unacceptable.

"Yet despite that, they have not yet introduced legislation to make it illegal.

"It's time for the Government to finally take action on this.

"They should include a commitment in next month’s Queen’s Speech to put an end to the practice once and for all."