TUC opposes workers' rights changes
Millions of workers will be turned into "second class citizens" if the Government adopts proposals in a controversial report into employment rights, union leaders have warned.The TUC said ideas in the report by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft would take the UK back towards Victorian times.
Union officials dressed up in Victorian costume as part of a protest in Westminster to warn against using the state of the economy to water down employment rights.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "We have made steady progress in the UK in securing a floor of minimum rights at work for all, but they are hardly generous. The OECD shows that among the world's 36 most prosperous countries, only workers in the USA have poorer rights than UK employees.
"Almost every advance has been bitterly opposed. The same arguments used against legal protection for child chimney sweeps in the 19th century are repeated every time.
"However, the clock is now turning backwards. Already people have to wait two years before getting protection against unfair dismissal. The opponents of workplace decency, like Adrian Beecroft, are using the economic crisis as an excuse to try to smuggle through attacks on employee rights."
Unions said plans contained in the Government-commissioned report would make it easier for firms to sack under-performing staff
Business minister Mark Prisk said 17 of the 23 recommendations in Mr Beecroft's report were already being put into action, while the rest were subject to consultation until June 8.
A Business Department spokesman said: "The Beecroft report has simply fed into Government thinking, not led the agenda. On the issue of no-fault dismissal we currently have an evidence-gathering exercise under way for micro-businesses and no decisions have been made. The Business Secretary has said before that sensible and well-thought-through reforms need a strong evidence base behind them."
"Our work in reforming employment law has always been about growth and getting people into jobs. We want to remove the burdens that businesses face and give them the confidence to take on staff while at the same time making sure the basic protections for workers up and down the country are not weakened."
"However, the clock is now turning backwards. Already people have to wait two years before getting protection against unfair dismissal. The opponents of workplace decency, like Adrian Beecroft, are using the economic crisis as an excuse to try to smuggle through attacks on employee rights."
Unions said plans contained in the Government-commissioned report would make it easier for firms to sack under-performing staff
Business minister Mark Prisk said 17 of the 23 recommendations in Mr Beecroft's report were already being put into action, while the rest were subject to consultation until June 8.
A Business Department spokesman said: "The Beecroft report has simply fed into Government thinking, not led the agenda. On the issue of no-fault dismissal we currently have an evidence-gathering exercise under way for micro-businesses and no decisions have been made. The Business Secretary has said before that sensible and well-thought-through reforms need a strong evidence base behind them."
"Our work in reforming employment law has always been about growth and getting people into jobs. We want to remove the burdens that businesses face and give them the confidence to take on staff while at the same time making sure the basic protections for workers up and down the country are not weakened."
© 2013 Press Association