But TUC accuses government of ‘Beecroft by the backdoor’
The government has announced a call for evidence on whistleblowing laws to assess whether there is enough protection for people who report wrongdoing.
Launching the review, employment minister Jo Swinson said that although the current whistleblowing system works well “we cannot be complacent” especially following recent allegations that NHS whistleblowers faced threats of the sack after speaking out.
She said: “We have already introduced significant changes which have strengthened the protections, but to better support those who take the often difficult decision to report wrongdoing at work, we are launching a call for evidence to help us see if further changes are required in light of this.”
The call for evidence will look at whether there are any gaps in the law that leave whistleblowers vulnerable to reprisals and mean they feel unable to come forward.
The review was announced as part of a broader government examination of employment law under the “Red Tape Challenge” to reduce bureaucracy.
As part of this agenda, rules governing the recruitment sector will also be reduced to increase labour market flexibility. The government pledged that this will not undermine rules that prevent agencies charging upfront fees for finding placements or allow employment businesses to withhold payment from temporary workers.
Other areas the government is working to “streamline” include: ongoing revisions to the employment tribunal system; the implementation of settlement agreements, alongside a new Acas Code and guidance, which come into force on the 29th of July; and the introduction of a new 12 month salary cap for unfair dismissal.
Swinson said: “Our main aim is to strike the right balance and increase the flexibility and efficiency of the labour market whilst making sure that we maintain essential protections.”
However, the TUC called this latest raft of legal revisions “Beecroft by the backdoor” referring to a roll back of employee rights first outlined in the controversial report by Adrian Beecroft published in 2012. The TUC said that scrapping protections for agency workers and limiting the amount of compensation employees can collect for unfair dismissal will punish the victims of ill-treatment at work and let bad employers off the hook.
The union body also questioned government assertions that recruitment sector changes would preserve employee rights such as the right to be paid in full and not to be charged upfront fees. Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary, said: “These changes will remove vital safeguards for hundreds of thousands of agency workers, many of whom are employed on zero hours contracts.
“Rogue employers will be delighted at the prospect of fewer inspectors coming around to check they are paying agency staff in full and not charging upfront fees.
“This government’s definition of a successful economy seems to be one that employs people on the minimum wage with no certainty of work or income. The trouble is that this great wage squeeze is bad for Britain’s businesses who will respond by reducing the hours and pay of their staff.
“This approach adds up to a vicious circle of economic decline, when what we need are policies for growth. Beecroft by the back door is not the way to turn around our economy. ”