Why our workers rights are at risk

THIS Government has promised to rewrite workers’ rights into UK law and will certainly revise/remove all the EU input meant for the betterment of workers. The danger of vulnerability for women workers may prove critical.

Maternity rights: EU law guarantees women a minimum of 14 weeks maternity leave. The 1992 EU Pregnant Workers Directive also gave women the right to take time off work for medical appointments relating to their pregnancy.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has made clear any discrimination towards a woman because of her pregnancy or maternity leave is sexism and should be treated at such.

Equal pay: British Government had refused to incorporate into law the idea that pay should be based on value, meaning a woman doing a more valuable or senior job could legally be paid only the same as a more junior male colleague. The UK Government amended this only after enforcement action by the EU Commission.

Above are extracts taken from these workers’ rights in law.

Parental leave: EU law says parents must be allowed to take 18 weeks of unpaid leave from work to look after a child. It also says workers must be allowed additional time off for other family reasons, such as an ill child. Only just these few lines define this. (Meaning, position will be kept open for employees to return.)

All three examples go to the heart of all UK families’ future welfare. If concerned, I suggest your MP should be made aware of them before it’s too late.

Will Woodward, Littleover