Jenrick CPI attends meeting with MPs at The House of Commons
Further to Jenrick CPI attending a meeting with MPs at the House of Commons, a question was raised at Prime Ministers Question time this week, which has left us scratching our heads again. Only last week we had confirmation from the government that the AWD would be delayed until October 2011, but here we have the PM giving very different signals.
Prime-Minister’s Questions
Katy Clark, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran: The Prime Minister will be well aware of the long campaign to get employment rights for temporary and agency workers. Will he indicate when we are going to get that legislation on the statute book?
Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister: A consultation period has started. I gather it finishes in the next few weeks and then we will make the final decisions.
Further into a reading of written questions, Jonathan Djanogly submitted a question asking for clarification on who the government consulted prior to the AWD motion being submitted to the house.
Written Question: Employment Agencies: EU Law
Jonathan Djanogly, Shadow Minister for Business: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings have taken place between his Department and representatives of the Trades Union Congress on the EU Agency Workers Directive.
Pat McFadden, Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Since October 2008, when the EU Agency Workers Directive was agreed, my officials have met a wide range of organisations to discuss implementation of the Directive. This includes National consultation events held in London and the regions as part of the public consultation exercise held between 8 May and 31 July 2009. Officials have also had a number of bilateral discussions with representatives of not only the Trades Union Congress but also organisations representing hirers and agencies to explore specific issues arising from the consultation paper in more detail.
In addition an early day motion (2099) was proposed by Andrew Miller
Early Day Motion 2099: Temporary Agency Workers Directive
Andrew Miller, Labour Chair of the Select Committee on Regulatory Reform proposed the following Early Day Motion:
That this House congratulates the Government on achieving a breakthrough on agreeing the Temporary Agency Workers Directive; and calls on the Minister to commence the measures before the end of this Parliament.
The EDM was seconded by: Paul Farrelly, Lindsay Hoyle, Bob Laxton, Ian Stewart and Jim Sheridan.
APSCo has reported this week that the UKs economic downturn has lead to the number of foreign workers being offered work has declined.
Downturn cuts foreign worker jobs
The recession has significantly cut the number of UK jobs being offered to workers from outside the EU, with 500,000 jobs in sectors on the ‘skills shortage list’, compared with 700,000 a year ago, according to the Migration Advisory Committee. It recommends some jobs in construction and engineering be removed from the list amid the recession.
The Committee said its latest analysis took account of the worldwide recession on the UK and on particular sectors hit hardest by the contraction in the economy. But it drew attention to a number of new skills gaps, including for teachers in specialist schools.
The full report can be viewed here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/workingwithus/mac/first-review-lists1/
Article Source - APSCo Newsletter
Tags: awd, House of Commons
