Staff reforms score a zero
Anger at protections for flexible staff
MINISTERS have been accused of failing to give proper protection to millions of flexible workers.
The Government will today publish its response to last year’s Taylor Review on modern working practices.
Among the proposals are to give all workers – including those on casual and zero-hours contracts – the right to holiday and sick pay from day one.
Workers will also be able to request a more stable contract and a pay slip.
Prime Minister Theresa May claimed it would ensure “an economy for everyone.” But critics condemned the report as a waste of time.
Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, compared it to “trying to put out a forest fire with a water pistol.” He added: “If the Government is serious about making life better for working people, giving workers the right to request that their bosses stop paying them poorly or treating them badly is an unfunny joke.”
Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “Today’s response is just more words, with no real action to improve the lives of the millions of people in insecure work.”
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The Government has taken a baby step – when it needed to take a giant leap. These plans won’t stop the hire and fire culture of zero-hours contracts or sham selfemployment. And they will still leave 1.8 million workers excluded from key protections.”
Yet business groups welcomed the plans. The CBI’s Neil Carberry said: “Business agrees with the Government that flexibility and fairness must go hand in hand.”