Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 15, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 15, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe UK government has launched a 12‑week consultation (from April 15, 2026) on extending a planned ban on NDAs used to silence victims of workplace harassment, to include agency workers and the self‑employed, with full implementation expected in 2027.
By Kirstin Ridley
LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Britain may widen a planned ban on non-disclosure agreements that silence victims of workplace harassment, discrimination and abuse to include agency workers and the self-employed, as well as permanent staff, the government said on Wednesday.
Launching a 12-week consultation, the government wants feedback on whether the planned protections should be extended, the conditions an NDA must meet to be valid and which workers should be free to speak to about their experience.
"We are committed to ending a culture of silence and impunity and stand with all survivors of harassment and abuse in the workplace," Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said.
"These changes will ensure no one has to suffer in silence and give workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour will be dealt with."
Campaigners such as Zelda Perkins, founder of not-for-profit campaign group Can't Buy My Silence, have for years campaigned against the misuse of NDAs, which they say perpetuate sexism and discrimination and prevent bosses from ending poor culture.
Lawmakers have said sexism and misogyny are rife in Britain - particularly in the financial services industry.
NDAs, or legally binding "gagging clauses", can be used legitimately to protect commercially sensitive information.
But campaigners say they can also shield serial perpetrators, cover-up discriminationBRITAIN-CULTURE/MISCONDUCT, prompt women to resign and embed corrosive workplace cultures.
"This consultation is a decisive moment in the fight to end the silencing of victims," said Perkins, urging victims to speak up and ensure the legislation is strong and enforceable.
"This is the chance to create world-leading protections and finally stop the misuse of confidentiality agreements to hide wrongdoing."
Plans to void exploitative NDAs will also mean witnesses can no longer be pressured into agreements that would stop them reporting abusive conduct and publicly supporting victims.
The government, which also plans to consult about changes to the legal framework around whistleblowing in the coming months as part of a pledge to protect workers who denounce wrongdoing, said new rules to ban the misuse of NDAs would come into force in 2027.
(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley; editing by Barbara Lewis)
The reforms may cover agency workers, the self-employed, and permanent staff, protecting various types of workers from gagging orders.
The government seeks feedback to decide if protections against misuse of NDAs should be extended, and to define valid conditions for their use.
The new rules to ban the misuse of workplace NDAs are expected to come into force in 2027.
Campaigners and lawmakers have highlighted misuse of NDAs in sectors such as financial services, where sexism and discrimination are prevalent.
The reforms aim to prevent NDAs from silencing victims and witnesses of workplace harassment, discrimination, and abuse.
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