The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has decided not to reform the current framework for employment rights covering the labour market, but has agreed to look at new ways of preventing exploitation of the most vulnerable workers.

After a consultation period the government has announced that the current legislation is well-balanced and adequate for current labour market needs. However, the DTI is launching a new consultation called ‘success at work’, to investigate new ways of protecting the most vulnerable workers in the labour market.

Potentially, a whole host of issues from minimum wage to discrimination legislation could have been set for overhaul.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) welcomed the news and has agreed to meet with the DTI to discuss the implications of the decision for the recruitment sector.

Managing director Gareth Osborne, said that vulnerable workers on the

edges of the labour market needed to be protected and that legitimate

recruitment agencies would play a positive role in any future

developments.

“There is a recognition and acceptance in government that vulnerable

workers need adequate protection. We have been lobbying for a review of the regulatory regime governing the recruitment industry for some time. We will continue to work with the DTI to look at innovative solutions to this ongoing issue,” he explained.

“The REC strongly believes that the current balance of legislation and labour market flexibility is appropriate. The decision to maintain this and not constrain UK business with unnecessary red tape vindicates this view. This is the right outcome for the economy, the workforce and for business.”