Over the last 14 years, Britain’s economic growth has been almost stagnant, and even when a little has been achieved, it has certainly not been felt by working people here in Ipswich.

Our new Labour government was elected on a mandate to halt this decline; to kickstart Britain’s flatlining economy, and to ensure that it starts to work for working people, no matter where they live.

The Employment Rights Bill presented to Parliament yesterday takes a crucial step in that direction.

During the election campaign, we promised that this Bill would be brought forward within the first 100 days of a Labour government, and we have delivered on that commitment.

Despite its unassuming title, this Bill does not merely tinker around the edges of our broken economy, however.

It is the biggest boost to workers’ rights in a generation, and truly lives up to its moniker of A New Deal for Working People.

The need for such a Bill is obvious. Too many people are trapped in insecure, low-paid work, working harder than ever for very little in return.

I have spoken to people who work well over 40 hours a week, yet on their way home from a long shift, are forced to queue at a foodbank just to put food on the table for their families.

The Bill ensures that employees are protected by workplace rights from day one. This includes protection from unfair dismissal, access to paternity pay, and granting unpaid parental leave.

These rights do not just apply to those already in secure jobs, but to thousands of people who are employed in the ‘gig economy’ too.

It bans exploitative zero-hour contracts, which all too often are little more than veneers for in-work poverty and insecurity.

It establishes Bereavement Leave, to allow the almost two million employees every year who lose a close family member the time and the space to grieve their loss.

And, it steps up where the previous Conservative government failed to deliver, by banning the horrific exploitation of fire and rehire, as well as strengthening protection from collective redundancy.

However, these reforms aren’t just about strengthening the protection afforded to those already in the workplace, but also seek to address some of the more systemic issues that keep millions of people out of work in the first place.

Almost all of the conversations I have had with Ipswich’s business community in the last few years have centred around our growth mission. This Bill is an indispensable part of delivering on that.

The previous Conservative government, in its murky embrace of populism, far too often resorted to stoking confrontations.

Whether between businesses and workers, between businesses and trade unions, or between different communities, they relentlessly looked to pit ordinary working people against one another.

Instead of helping to solve industrial action in a constructive manner, they fanned the flames, hoping to reap the political benefits, regardless of the cost to our economy, or our society.

Nothing suggests that they have changed their approach since losing the election.

Yet, the Employment Rights Bill is emblematic of the change of approach that working people get with a Labour government.

We want British businesses to succeed and we want working people to benefit from the prosperity they helped create. If we want growth, it has to be sustainable, and shared.

Crucially, this Bill delivers on our Labour government’s fundamental belief that work should pay.

That if you work hard, you should be protected, and rewarded. It is a first step in a new era for working people in Ipswich, in Suffolk, and across Britain.

This opinion column has been written by Jack Abbott, Ipswich MP.