Political update

What's being said in Parliament

Equality Bill: Employment service-providers

Lord Hunt of Wirral, Conservative Spokesperson for Business, Innovation and Skills, moved an amendment to the Equality Bill which would mean that an employment service-provider could not ask for details of an applicant's health or disabilities before making an offer, "except in so far as is necessary to make reasonable adjustments to the selection process."

He criticized the Government's failure to address the issue and noted that a wide range of health and disability charities had been lobbying for change. However, he withdrew the amendment having received assurances from the Government of their intent in this area.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldhansrd/text/100119-0008.htm#10011969000117

What stakeholders are saying

BCC react to AWD implementation

Under the proposed Agency Workers Directive employers will be legally obliged to grant temporary employees the same rights as permanent members of staff after twelve weeks of employment. This will be introduced from 2011 onwards and is likely to cost employers £1.5Bn per year. The British Chamber of Commerce has called for a three year moratorium before the introduction of the law in a recently published report entitled 'Employment Burden Timeline'. It was suggested this would boost both economic recovery and job creation.

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