The BRC said the impact of changes announced in the Budget would be 'compounded' by some of the proposed changes under the Employment Rights Bill, which could force firms to reduce the number of local, flexible jobs.
One in ten of these jobs could be at risk of being lost over the next three years, the BRC said, as a result of changes announced by Rachel Reeves in October.
The retail sector remains the biggest private sector employer and accounts for more than a third of local jobs in 20 per cent of parliamentary constituencies, according to the British Retail Consortium.
'If the government can find ways of mitigating the £7billion of costs facing the industry this year, as well as ensuring a pragmatic approach to the Employment Rights Bill that focuses on tackling unscrupulous employers, protecting employees while supporting employment, then many jobs would be saved.'.
Up to 160,000 part-time retail jobs could be axed in the next three years as a result of tax changes announced in the Budget, an influential industry body has warned.
