Press Releases
Growth in vulnerable work the focus of the regional TUC
Stephen Hughes MEP and Sarah Veale, Head of Equalities and Employment Rights at the TUC, led a debate at the Northern TUC Regional Council around the increasing scale of vulnerable workers in the UK. While the region's employment levels continue to grow and the economy of the region is improving faster than other parts of the UK, underlying trends in quality and security of employment remain a major concern for trade unions.
Stephen Hughes MEP, a long-standing campaigner for workers' rights and a regular speaker at TUC events, outlined the European dimension to increasing vulnerability at work. The latest European labour market picture shows increasing rates of part-time, temporary and agency contracts throughout the area, coupled with a 2% decline in full-time employment, which now only accounts for 53% of total employment. 'If this trend continues,' Stephen said, ''atypical work' will become the typical form of employment.'
One of the most crucial debates within Europe at the moment is enabling the right balance to be struck between flexibility and security. In Scandinavia there is a high level of flexibility, but workers also feel secure as there is good support for workers in-between jobs with training and social support. Outside this region there is flexibility without security.
The Parliamentary Group of European Socialists (PES), which includes British Labour MEPs, have constructed a response to the European Commission proposals regarding 'flexicurity' (their name for measures to increase the flexibility of work and employment). The response has five pre-conditions:
- A balance between rights and obligations, on employers and workers.
- A comprehensive welfare system to support workers who are not in work.
- Investment in active labour market policies.
- Investment in education and training.
- Proper social partnership between employers and trade unions.
In addition there are seven fundamental principles to make flexible and secure labour markets work:
- A skilled and capable workforce, achieved by genuine lifelong learning
- Protection at work, prevention of abuse of vulnerable workers
- Measures to end occupational segregation in the labour market
- Social partnership in making change happen
- Gender equality and equality of opportunity
- A macro-economic framework for growth
- National pathways and consultation for social partners.
A full copy of the PES response can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/PESresponse.pdf and further information available on here
Sarah Veale highlighted the paucity of reliable data regarding the numbers of workers employed on agency 
contracts. The Labour Force Survey shows just over a quarter of a million; DTI figures estimate the number at 600,000, or 2.6% of the labour market, while REC, the Employment Agency federation, claims as many as 1.4 million workers are employed through agencies. This confusion is partly based upon the fact that many workers in this situation aren't even sure who their employer is. What we do know is there has been a massive increase in the use of agency workers by employers since 1992, up 330%, and continuing, albeit at a slower rate of growth.
Temporary and Agency workers, although employed in all sectors, are concentrated more in some areas than others. 86% of temporary and agency workers are in the service sector; 43% in government, health and education; 17% in distribution, hotels and catering; while in manufacturing the rate is only 4%.
The TUC and trade unions continue to campaign for equal and fair treatment for agency workers. Just because people are on agency contracts there is no justification for a lack of employment rights; fewer holidays, poorer conditions of employment, no sick pay, little investment (if any) in training and development. Most temporary and agency workers want permanent employment, no wonder.
Efforts continue at a European level to secure the progression of a Directive giving equal treatment to Temporary and Agency Workers, if this continues to stall in the political machinery in Europe the TUC will continue to press for domestic legislation to protect vulnerable workers.
The TUC Commission on Vulnerable Employment will report in March. The CoVE has been taking evidence around the country from vulnerable workers and organisations, highlighting the need for improved rights for vulnerable workers and exposing a lack of enforcement of current entitlements.
A full copy of Sarah Veale's presentation to the Northern TUC Regional Council can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/presentation19jan.ppt
Briefing document (800 words) issued 22 Jan 2008
Contact:
Cyndi Beaver <cyndi.b@ntlworld.com >
Telephone:077641 98400