Business asks for laws on labour jobs to be frozen
The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has written to the Business Secretary to request a three-year moratorium on the labour legislation to be introduced in 2011.
The Financial Times reports that the BCC fears that the new regulations would cause an "administrative nightmare". In the letter to Lord Mandelson, the BCC director of policy, Adam Marshall, reportedly asks for "a period of stability to allow recent changes to 'bed in' and give employers the time to concentrate on running their business".
Some of the measures planned for 2011 include the Agency Workers Directive and the Equality Bill, as well as giving workers the right to request "time to train" and introducing a new system for extra paternity leave.
The Agency Workers Directive would give temporary staff employed through a recruitment agency the same rights as permanent employees. The directive would bring Britain in line with European Union employment laws, and would result in equal pay and conditions for temporary workers who have been employed for over 12 weeks.
This directive has already been opposed by the BCC. Earlier this year its' Director General, David Frost, wrote to Lord Mandelson asking for the legislation to be delayed until the latest possible date of implementation; October 2011. If the Business Secretary capitulates to the latest request, this law could be delayed until 2014.
The BCC claims that it will lead to "uncertainty, confusion and a huge increase in vexatious claims", and projected a potential cost of £3.5bn a year to businesses. Over 12.1 million temporary workers are employed every year through a recruitment agency. A report by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in 2009 found that there were widespread complaints of unscrupulous agencies and employers underpaying and exploiting temporary staff.