OpenConsultation consultationoutcome

Make Work Pay: draft code of practice on trade union right of access

From:
Department for Business and Trade, Kate Dearden MP and The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP
Published
8 April 2026
Last updated
6 July 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Government response to the consultation on the draft code of practice on trade unions’ right of access into workplaces

PDF, 383 KB, 52 pages

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Code of Practice: right of trade unions to access workplaces

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6704-3, E03640340

Unnumbered act paper

PDF, 522 KB, 46 pages

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Trade union statutory access to workplaces final impact assessment

PDF, 544 KB, 56 pages

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Detail of outcome

This consultation invited views on the clarity and accessibility of the draft statutory code of practice on trade union right of access to workplaces. The government would like to thank all those who responded.

The consultation received over 793 responses from:

  • employers
  • trade unions
  • business groups
  • legal bodies
  • academics

The government considered the responses carefully and the code has been revised based on this feedback. This response sets out the changes made and explains the reasons for them.

The revised draft code of practice was laid in Parliament on 6 July 2026, alongside secondary legislation setting out the operational and procedural details of the right of access framework. Subject to approval by both houses, the code and secondary legislation is expected to come into force in October 2026.

Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on a draft code of practice on the new legal framework for trade unions’ access to workplaces.

This consultation closesran atfrom
to

Consultation description

The government is introducing a new statutory code of practice to support the new legal framework for trade unions and employers when negotiating trade unions’ access into workplaces.

This new code will be the main source of practical guidance on the new statutory access framework. It will include:

  • how access requests should be made
  • how access agreements should be negotiated and implemented across different types of workplaces
  • best practice examples to support effective engagement

This consultation invites views from all interested parties to ensure the new code of practice is clear, practical and balanced.

Documents

Consultation on draft code of practice on trade unions’ right of access into workplaces

PDF, 649 KB, 30 pages

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Draft code of practice: right of trade unions to access workplaces

PDF, 583 KB, 32 pages

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Ways to respond

Respond online

or

Email to:

tradeunionpolicy@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Write to:

Trade Union Policy, Employment Rights Directorate
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY

Updates to this page

Published 8 April 2026
Last updated 6 July 2026 — Show all updates

  1. Response to the consultation, code of practice and final impact assessment added.

  2. First published.

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