Matthew Taylor has been appointed as the first Chair of the Government’s new Fair Work Agency, which is being established as part of the Government’s overhaul of workers’ rights under its flagship Employment Rights Bill.
The Government says that the Fair Work Agency will transform how employment rights are enforced across the UK, creating a single enforcement body. The new agency will oversee enforcement of statutory payments including holiday pay, minimum wage and Statutory Sick Pay. The Resolution Foundation estimates that 900,000 UK workers annually have their holiday pay withheld, worth around £2.1 billion.
The Fair Work Agency will launch in April 2026 and will have powers to act against employers breaching the law, including workplace inspections, civil penalties for underpayments and the power to bring claims on behalf of workers. It will also provide support for organisations on complying with employment laws.
What will the Fair Work Agency do?
Matthew Taylor CBE is the author of Good Work: Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, which led to the development of the Good Work Plan (published in 2018). He is also currently chief executive of the NHS Confederation.
Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD, said: “The appointment of Matthew Taylor as chair of the new Fair Work Agency is an important step toward building a more coherent, fairer system of labour market enforcement. His experience and leadership will be crucial in driving forward the agency’s mission to prevent exploitation and promote fair treatment for all workers.”
“To ensure its success, the Fair Work Agency must be equipped with the right resources and a strong employer-side voice from the outset. Employers - particularly smaller businesses - need clear guidance and support to comply with the new Employment Rights Bill. At the CIPD we look forward to working with Matthew to help the Fair Work Agency deliver on its ambition.”
