‘A willingness to exploit workers should not be a competitive advantage. A race to the bottom risks undercutting the vast majority of businesses that do treat their workers well.’
This is according to A Framework for Modern Employment (pdf), published in November 2017 by the House of Commons Work and Pensions and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committees.
The report aims to take forward recommendations from the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, alongside proposals for legislation to modernise British employment and protect workers.
It suggests:
- Clearer statutory definitions of employments status
- A ‘worker by default’ model
- A pay premium on the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage for workers with non-contracted hours
- An increase in the time allowance for a break in service (while still accruing employment rights for continuous service) from one week to one month
- Fewer restrictions on class actions and increased penalties via employment tribunals
- Ruling out any legislation that would undermine the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage
- Entitlement to a written statement of employment particulars
- Lowering the Information and Consultation of Employees threshold
- Ending the Swedish Derogation
- Stronger and more deterrent penalties, and
- Proactive enforcement.
