Unions reject PM's 'flimsy' workers' rights proposals
Theresa May will announce a series of new measures aimed at protecting workers' rights ahead of a crunch vote on her Brexit deal.
Wednesday 6 March 2019 10:51, UK
New government proposals aimed at protecting workers' rights after Brexit have been dismissed by trade union leaders as "flimsy" and "deeply disappointing".
Prime Minister Theresa May will announce on Wednesday the details behind a government commitment, made last December, to deliver what it claimed would be the "largest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation".
She said: "The enormous success of our jobs market and the wealth of opportunities for workers across the nation have long been underpinned by the policies and standards that exceed the minimums set by the EU and that has been driven by successive governments of all parties.
"After Brexit it should be for parliament to decide what rules are most appropriate, rather than automatically accepting EU changes."
The new measures will include a commitment to give parliament the right vote on whether UK law should follow future changes to EU standards on workers' rights or workplace health and safety.
This commitment would be set into law as part of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the piece of legislation the government must pass to ratify the Brexit deal the prime minister reached with the EU.
It will be viewed as another part of Mrs May's bid to woo Brexit-friendly Labour MPs to back her withdrawal agreement, which was overwhelmingly rejected by the House of Commons in January.
Ahead of another vote on her Brexit deal, expected next week, the prime minister has also launched a £1.6bn Stronger Towns Fund to boost growth in less prosperous parts of the UK.
Labour backbenchers John Mann and Jim Fitzpatrick have suggested they will support the PM's deal when it is voted on again by MPs.
However, Mrs May has been accused of trying to "bribe" MPs to support her withdrawal agreement.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said: "While the EU sets minimum requirements in many areas of workers' rights, time and again the UK has led the way and chosen to exceed them.
"Yet it is a fact that some people felt that the rights of workers would not be adequately addressed, so as part of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill we will ensure parliament is given a vote on the action government will take in response to changes to EU legislation on workers' rights."
Mrs May will also set out plans to create a new enforcement body that will deal with all labour market issues, such as the minimum wage payment, the rights of agency workers and workplace exploitation.
Currently such issues are handled by a range of different bodies, including HMRC, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.
But despite a number of meetings between ministers and trade union leaders in the last month to discuss these proposals, the announcement has been met with widespread criticism.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady urged MPs not to be "taken in by this blatant window dressing".
"These are flimsy procedural tweaks," she said.
"They come nowhere close to ensuring existing rights are protected. And they won't stop workers' rights in the UK from falling behind those in the rest of Europe.
"What's more, there's nothing to stop a future right-wing government tearing up this legislation altogether."
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey accused ministers of failing to listen to concerns raised by unions.
He said: "After all the talk and media briefing preceding this announcement, it is deeply disappointing that the government appears not to have listened to any of the concerns expressed by trade unions.
"The fact remains that workers in the UK have among the poorest protections in Europe, thanks to opt-outs by successive Westminster governments.
"This announcement changes that woeful situation not one jot."
Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: "The government's deal would see the existing backstop on workers' rights pulled from beneath people's feet, with employment protections we all rely on being left to the mercy of whichever hard-line Tory takes the reigns next."
Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour's shadow business secretary, said: "Hot on the heels of their pathetic bribe for left-behind towns, here comes the government's attempt to bribe workers to back their botched Brexit deal.
"Instead of automatically keeping up with European workers' rights, and using that as a floor as Labour has pledged, the government is admitting that British workers could see their rights fall behind those of colleagues in Europe.
"This is utterly unacceptable and workers and trade unions will not be fooled."
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said: "This is yet another desperate attempt by the prime minister to save her deal by bribing Labour MPs.
She added: "Trusting the Conservatives to protect workers' rights would be like trusting a fox to guard the hen house.
"The only way to protect the millions of workers in the UK is to stay in the EU."