Hutton: No more employment legislation

Posted on 30 May 2008

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The business secretary John Hutton has revealed the government has no plans to introduce any further employment legislation.

Speaking to the Fabian Society in London today, he said the Labour government believed there was no longer any need to overhaul governance practices, claiming it had reached "the end of the era" where red tape was concerned.

He said; "In future, beyond minimum standards, we must place increasing emphasis on government creating the opportunity for workers and businesses to work out what is best for their own circumstances."

Brendan Barber, the Trade Union Congress general secretary, argued against any suggestion the government had completed the task of improving workers' rights.

He said John Hutton was right to point to the need for effective enforcement of workplace rights, but "wrong and dangerously complacent" to argue that the regulatory framework was now fully fit for purpose in light of flexible working reforms.

Last week it was announced that any parent with children under the age of 16 would be entitled to apply to their employer for permission to work non-standard hours.

Category: General News

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