Proposed legislation would see as many as 1.3 million of the lowest paid employees qualifying for statutory sick pay (SSP).

The Employment Rights Bill, which the government says will tackle low pay and poor working conditions, passed its second reading by 386 votes to 105 after being debated by MPs on Monday.

Under the plans, the threshold preventing people earning less than £123-a-week from qualifying for SSP would be scrapped. It would also seek workers given the right to the benefit…