The GMB hopes that the proposals from Pubs Minister John Healey will bring an end to the "Dickensian" relationship it claims exists between pubcos and their tenants.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said there would not be an end to the struggle of pub tenants until there was a "root and branch" change of ownership.
"Pub licensees need help right now to stop pubs going bust. Any support like this for licensees is really important," he said. "The position is desperate for many publicans.
"Not until there is a root and branch change in the structure of ownership will licensees get a fair deal and customers get reasonable prices. The relationship and control from pubco to customers is Dickensian and unfair to both licensees and customers alike.
"The tied tenants are one of the most exploited groups of workers in the land. The House of Commons Business and Enterprise Committee (BEC) found that two thirds of them earn less than £15,000 per annum for up to 60 hours per week, an hourly rate less than the national minimum wage.
"The pub property owners refuse to acknowledge the economic problems that arise as a consequence of the wholesale prices they charge the tenants."
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