Information & Consultation Bill 'Untenable' in Current Form
20 Jul 2005
Congress today (July 20) expressed serious disappointment at the "minimalist approach adopted by government" in the newly-published Bill on informing and consulting employees in the workplace and said it was "untenable in its current form."
The Employees (Provision of Information & Consultation) Bill 2005 will transpose a European Directive which gives employees statutory rights to be informed about and consulted on major issues affecting their employment.
Speaking after a meeting of the Congress Executive Council, Assistant General Secretary Peter Bunting remarked:
"It appears that the government has adopted the minimalist approach to the Information and Consultation Directive that was advocated by the employers.
"In doing so government has produced a Bill that falls far, far short of what is required. In its current form this will do nothing to aid workplace consultation or representation.
Mr Bunting was particularly critical of the fact that the Bill offers no protection for employees who seek to exercise their right to information and consultation.
"This seems bizarre - in effect, it means that employees could be penalised for attempting to validate their rights. This is a major loophole in the proposed legislation and must be closed.
"Over the coming weeks Congress will engage in detailed consultations with a view to proposing significant amendments to this draft legislation. From a partnership perspective the Bill is completely untenable in its current form."
ends