Ministers have abandoned plans to give workers day-one protection against unfair dismissal in a bid to ensure the Government’s Employment Rights Bill makes it through Parliament.

The Government now intends to introduce the right after six months of service instead – down from the current qualifying period of 24 months – in a U-turn which breaches Labour’s manifesto.

The legislation has been caught in a stand-off between peers and MPs over the Government’s plan to give workers protection on their first day in a job, as well as measures to ban “exploitative” zero hours contracts.

The Department for Business and Trade insisted the updated package would still “benefit millions of working people who will gain new rights and offer business and employers much-needed clarity”.

“To further stre

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