Unite calls for legislation to prioritise workers in
tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech
Issue date: Monday 5th November 2007
Publication date: Tuesday 6th November
2007
Unite, the UK’s largest trade union,
is asking the government to prioritise legislation to help and
protect workers in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech.
Speaking ahead of the announcement of the
government’s new legislative programme tomorrow, Unite says that
equal rights for agency workers, better regulation for employment
agencies and plans to act on affordable housing and pensions are
paramount if the government is to reconnect with workers.
Although Unite notes the anticipated
announcement of Employment Simplification Bill which is likely to
deal with a range of workplace issues including better enforcement
for the National Minimum Wage and increased powers for the
Employment Agencies Inspectorate, it will fall short of the
legislation that is required to ensure the equal treatment of
temporary and agency workers.
Unite say legislation for temporary and agency
workers is key to preventing widespread exploitation and abuse of
over 1.4 million people in the UK employed across industry and
service sectors and was promised by the Labour Party to be
delivered in this Parliamentary term in UK law if it wasn’t
delivered through European Directive.
Unite is also calling for measures that make
senior directors of companies personally liable for deaths and
serious injuries in their workplace. The union says this is the
only way to ensure that companies introduce better health and
safety standards.
Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary of
Unite, said:
“Rather than introduce legislation
designed to assist employers, we need greater employment protection
for workers.
“UK workers are among the least
protected in Europe and UK employers the least regulated. Claims
being made about the need for labour flexibility to create more
jobs are false. Flexibility for employers leads to poorer, not
greater, job security for workers.”
Tony Woodley, Unite Joint General Secretary,
said:
“At a time of unprecedented
employment levels in the UK, our members greatest concern is the
security of their job.
“Job security, housing and decent
pay are still the bread and butter issues that our members need to
see action on.”
-Ends-
For further information please contact
Catherine Bithell or Claire Ainsley in the Unite press office on
020 7420 8909 / 07958 473 224 or 020 7611
2550.
