TUC report shows need for education not regulation, says REC

The report published today by the TUCís Commission on Vulnerable Employment highlights the need to raise awareness amongst workers as to their employment rights and to effectively enforce existing regulations.

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However, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), the representative body for the UK recruitment industry, has challenged some of the other conclusions ñ in particular with regards the need for further regulation.

Responding to the TUC report, REC Director of External Relations Tom Hadley says:

ìLaw abiding agencies fully support the objective of identifying the minority of rogue organisations that not only exploit workers but also undercut legitimate businesses. Where there is a divergence is in the means of achieving this end. The report recommends further legislation, but the reality is that temporary workers are already covered by most employment rights and that regulations covering agency work are already in place. The Governmentís recent commitment to better enforcement of these regulations must be given time to deliverî.

The TUC Commission report also focuses on access to education and skills and on the need to lift people out of poorly paid jobs. Commenting on this important area within the TUC report, Hadley concludes:

ìSome workers may be stuck in low paid temporary jobs, but a number of permanent employees are also trapped in low-paid employment with little prospect of advancement. This is not a temp versus perm issue so much as a skilled versus unskilled issue. What we should be talking about on the back of this report is education not regulation. The irony is that undertaking temporary assignments in a variety of different workplaces is one of the best ways of building confidence and experience and honing practical skills.î