Workers will be able to sue their bosses if they are forced to work too hard, under a new law planned for the fall.
Ministers could allow employees to lodge complaints if they are forced to work more than 48 hours a week, the Times reported.
These rules, set out in the EU Working Time Directive, were incorporated into UK law by the previous Labour government.
But currently they can only be enforced by bodies such as local councils and the Health and Safety Executive, and cannot be heard in courts.
The changes are expected to be included in a package of additional workers’ rights introduced by Labour next October, which also includes the right for workers to demand a four-day week.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner supports the changes which are being developed in close consultation with business and unions.
Employees will be able to sue their bosses if they are forced to work too hard under a new law due to come into force in the autumn (Photo: Angela Rayner)
The changes are expected to be included in a package of additional rights for workers introduced by Labour next October (file photo)
Ministers are also expected to give workers more time to file claims against their employers.
Under the new rules, the time limit will be increased from three to six months from the time a person leaves the company and workers may even be able to take legal action while they are still employed.
Breach of contract claims relating to issues with working conditions and unpaid bonuses would also be allowed, with the maximum damages that could be awarded increased from £25,000 to £100,000.
Kathleen Healy, vice-president of the Employment Lawyers Association, said of the new plans: “This may mean employees will seek redress by challenging the number of hours they work rather than through other means, but they may also prefer to pursue other claims such as discrimination.”
It comes as it emerged that workers would be entitled to demand a four-day week under Labour’s new “unemployment charter”.
Under a “compressed hours” system, workers could be able to work their contracted hours in four days rather than five.
Currently, workers have the legal right to ask their employers for flexible working hours, but companies are not obliged to agree.
However, the new workers’ rights package will shift the balance of power, with companies being forced to offer flexible working hours unless it is “not reasonably practicable”.
This increased flexibility means that workers will have greater legal leverage if they ask to complete their working week in four days, rather than five.
Conservatives, however, have criticised the plans, saying they would leave businesses “petrified”.
Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative shadow business secretary, described the legislation as “French-style trade union laws”.
Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative shadow business secretary, described the legislation as “French-style trade union laws”.
Currently, workers have the legal right to ask their employers for flexible working hours, but companies are not obliged to agree (file photo)
He said: “Labour needs to listen to businesses who are petrified of introducing the four-day week through the back door and worrying about workers’ rights from day one.
“It’s businesses and consumers who will pay, and it’s growth that will suffer if they don’t listen.”
In response to Mr Hollinrake’s comments, the government said it had “no intention” of forcing businesses to accept employees’ requests for four-day working weeks.
A spokesperson for the Department of Trade and Business said they had a “significant and ambitious programme to ensure workplace rights are fit for a modern economy”.
MailOnline has contacted the department for further comment.
The workers’ rights package, due to be presented this autumn, has been dubbed “Labour’s plan to make work pay”.
The issue has been the subject of years of internal party debate, but Labour has promised to bring a bill to Parliament by mid-October.
Other projects under consideration include granting employees the “right to disconnect.”
The government is seeking to develop a code of practice that sets out normal working hours and clarifies when an employee can expect to be contacted by their employer.
The policy, which would be led by new Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor, includes the right for workers to refuse to do extra work on weekends or carry out work-related tasks during their annual leave.
Authoritarian bosses who repeatedly breach the agreement could be taken to an employment tribunal and denied thousands of pounds in compensation.