This development, which is apparently intended
to ”tackle red tape and stop regulators breathing down the necks' of
businesses” will probably come as a surprise to activists who heard no such
plans at the recent conference in Birmingham just a few weeks ago. Indeed they
were promised measures to build growth and produce a balanced economy.
Clegg however feels that the appropriate balance in this instance is to give
employers the freedom to have "frank discussions" with
underperforming workers without any consideration for their age or worries that
anything said might end up repeated in an employment tribunal. There is no
indication that staff would enjoy similar levels of immunity.
The Lib Dem leader claimed the moves are motivated by a desire to introduce deregulation
and would help to "remove much of the red-tape that stifles competitiveness in the UK" - and no tory minister could put it better.
But what his words effectively mean is that he and his mate Vince have signed their party up to the age-old right-wing tory philosophy that low pay and employment insecurity are the only tools
you really need in government to boost economic prosperity.
Update: More leaked info on government plans to screw workers.
Update: More leaked info on government plans to screw workers.
9 Comments:
Do you think I should hold my breath for Peter Black to defend his party's further shift to the right? Even he couldn't find some weasel words to defend this. My guess is that he'll lie low & say nothing.
An excellent post and one that emphatically puts the lie to all the Lib Dem bullshit about them being a moderating influence in the coalition. Attacking workers rights is as much on their political agenda as it is for their tory partners in crime.
Two stories in the Telegraph about sacking "unproductive" workers and how Vince Cable has been fined £25,000 for non-payment of VAT.
Actually, Cable was fined £500 for late payment of £25,000 VAT on earnings from his "media work". The Guardian says the income was on book deals in the two years before he became a minister. Cable earned an estimated £192,000 on top of his MP's annual salary – currently £65,738 – but failed to register it. VAT payable would have been at the old 17.5% rates and not 20% level introduced in January this year.
Ta. Either way, Peter Black still thinks the most important story in the Telegraph is that Clegg wants to stay in Europe. Has anyone asked how Europe feels about this?
I thought we all had to work into our 70's in future?
"The proposed change means introducing a new law that will allow 'protected conversations' - meaning staff will not be able to use them against employers later." And vice versa. It means that both employer and employee will be able to plan ahead without prejudice. The only serious objection I have heard to the scheme is from a specialist lawyer who said that no new law was necessary, that such "without prejudice" conversations could be had already.
Ageism in employment became illegal on the first of this month. The UK, thanks to the Labour government, resisted this piece of EU social legislation until the last possible moment. Unless you seriously believe that 81 little-Englanders will change coalition policy with respect to EU, we are now committed to the legislation, thankfully.
The idea is that employers will be able to plan ahead by not being surprised by an employee's decision to retire. What is
Bit rich to see a Liberal Democrat lecturing on delayed european regulations given the coalition's record on issues such as adoption of human trafficking controls.
How productive exactly are Cable and Clegg ( and the rest of their little friends)? How can we get them sacked?
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