For far too long, employment rights in the UK have felt like “rules without referees.” You might have known you were being underpaid or denied holiday, but the burden of proof, the cost of a tribunal, and the fear of speaking out often made it impossible to get justice.
However, this is all about to change. As part of the phased implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025, the government has today launched the Fair Work Agency (FWA). This new body is a massive victory for workers, acting as a single, powerful watchdog over your workplace rights.
What is the Fair Work Agency?
Currently, if an employer breaks the law, enforcement is scattered across different departments, such as His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for minimum wage, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) for exploitation, and various others for agency rules.
The FWA brings all of these under one roof. It will be a single, recognisable point of contact for workers to ensure your rights are being upheld. Its mission is simple – to uphold a level playing field where good employers are protected while bad employers are held to account.
How will the Fair Work Agency affect you?
Proactive protection
Previously, enforcement only really happened if an individual employee or worker was brave enough to blow the whistle on their employer’s bad practices. The FWA has the power to be proactive in carrying out spot checks and inspections on workplaces (without waiting for a complaint).
Taking the burden off you
No one wants to find themselves in a position of whistleblowing, and many are afraid to do so out of repercussions. In addition to this, going to an employment tribunal can be an exhausting and intimidating experience. The FWA has the ability to bring tribunal claims on behalf of workers should they find widespread issues of underpayment or systemic abuse, saving you the stress (and cost!) of a private legal battle.
Guaranteed pay, SSP and holiday pay
The FWA will enforce the national minimum wage, the changes to SSP (ensuring you get your day one rights as part of the Employment Rights Act) and enforce holiday pay to ensure you aren’t cheated out of your well-earned rest.
The FWA will have teeth when it comes to your pay. It will enforce:
Penalties for bad employers
If an employer is found to have underpaid staff, the FWA doesn’t just ask them to pay it back – they can issue fines. This serves as a massive deterrent to bad employers who ignore their workers’ rights.
For the vast majority of workers, the introduction of the Fair Work Agency means peace of mind, security, dignity and support should something go wrong at work.
As a modern trade union, Community prides ourselves on working with GOOD employers. We believe fair work is for everyone, and employers who already work with us should have nothing to fear from the Fair Work Agency.
We are looking forward to working alongside the Fair Work Agency and will be supporting our members in understanding their rights when it comes to FWA powers.
© Community Trade Union 2026
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