In a further attack on the employment rights of working people, the government has just announced that low-paid workers who go on strike will lose the right to have their wages topped up under the benefit system.

Currently people who are in work, but claiming Working Tax Credits, retain their entitlement for up to 10 days when they are on strike. Under Universal Credit (which will come into effect in 2013), the household award of claimants identified as being involved in a trade union dispute using information provided by HMRC will be assessed using ‘pre-strike’ level of earnings. Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith justified the move on the basis that going on strike was a choice and that benefit claimants would, in future, have to pay the price for that choice.

Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the TUC, said: "This is petty and vindictive. Workers are always reluctant to strike, depriving their families of benefits will leave low-paid workers even more vulnerable to bad treatment."

In an uncharacteristic departure from the recent onslaught on workers’ rights, the government announced last week that employers found guilty of gender pay discrimination (whether contractual or non-contractual) would have to conduct a pay audit if the Tribunal thought the discrimination was likely to continue.

It would not, however, order an audit if the employer had completed one in the last three years, if the organisation had transparent pay practices or it could show a good reason why it would not be “useful”.

The government intends to issue a further consultation later this year on the exact details of how the audits will operate and what publication requirements will apply, but has already said that micro businesses will initially be exempt from the proposals.

Finally the government has also issued a call for evidence from UK stakeholders on recent proposals from the European Commission for a Posting of Workers Enforcement Directive.

The proposals are likely to have an impact on businesses who employ posted workers or post workers to other member states, and on workers posted to or from the UK, particularly the construction sector.

The consultation [PDF, 198KB] closes on 26 July and can be accessed on the Department for Business Innovation & Skills website