Calls for changes to labour laws to support flexible working

Policymakers are being urged to make changes and modernise labour laws to make it easier for people to work flexibly in the labour market.

In its call, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) cites new research from the World Employment Confederation (WEC), which reinforces the need to better enable temporary working not just in the UK, but globally.

The survey of 680 of the Forbes 2000 companies found that 83% of firms say employees place as much value on having flexibility in their work, as they do on pay and other additional benefits. It also found that eight in ten of the UK companies questioned want to increase their use of agency workers as they adapt to a faster-changing world.

However, despite more people wanting to work flexibly, the WEC found that existing legislative barriers are deterring workers from choosing shorter-term contracts – 83% of the global businesses surveyed also want simplified rules.

REC Deputy Chief Executive Kate Shoesmith, commented on the findings, “Protecting workers matters – so we are looking to modernise our laws, not water them down.

“For too long, our law has treated temporary and flexible workers as if they are somehow runners up to permanent workers. The presumption by law makers is that they should want to work like people did when these laws were first brought in, back in the 1970s, but people now want more control over their careers.

“It is time to wake up to reality and update laws to reflect the balance we are all striking between work and other responsibilities. Rather than regulating contracts, we should focus on abolishing poor treatment with better legislation and proper enforcement. That way, we’ll access the full benefits of our flexible labour market, opening up opportunities and helping the UK thrive.”

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