Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets Justin Madders MP has written to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), pledging to collaborate with its members when implementing upcoming legislation introduced by the Employment Rights Bill.

According to the association, in his letter, Madders recognised convenience colleagues as essential workers and praised its members for providing secure permanent contracts and giving good notice for shifts.

ACS’ 2024 Local Shop Report highlighted how the convenience sector provides secure employment for around 445,000 people and this year generated £9bn in tax income for the Treasury.

In his letter, the minister also recognised the challenges that the convenience sector is facing, noting “rising operational costs to pressures of inflation”.

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As a result, he said: “We are determined to ensure that our legislation is introduced pragmatically, working with businesses like yours, so that the implementation of these changes can be managed constructively.

“As the Bill continues through Parliament, I warmly invite ACS and all its members to work in partnership with us to help ensure our reforms get the right balance and put the principles we all share into practice.”

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the minister’s commitment to striking a balance with the Employment Rights Bill so that our members can continue to invest in creating jobs and offering services to the communities they serve.

“Separate to these reforms, the cost of employing people has increased significantly through National Living Wage and National Insurance Contribution rises, so the implementation of new employment law needs to be light-touch and pragmatic.”

Last month, more than 70 UK retailers warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that her decision to increase employers’ National Insurance contributions in the Budget will lead to “inevitable” job cuts and price rises.

The companies, which include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons, said that the National Insurance hike, combined with a rise in the national minimum wage, and new packaging levies could see the retail industry’s costs surge by up to £7bn a year.