European Employment Law beginning to worry chemical industry

The European Union was today urged to show greater appreciation of the Chemical Industry and its global competitive challenges.

In a series of briefings to MEPs, Commission Officials, the Trade Unions and the Office of the UKís Permanent Representative in Brussels, Simon Marsh, Director of Employment Relations at the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), appealed to the EU to pay greater attention to the impact of employment legislation on chemical businesses who need to compete with companies based outside of Europe.

íIt is wrong to assume that when Europe legislates it is a level playing field because it affects one market. We trade and compete globally and the CIA is in Brussels today on behalf of chemical businesses in the UK to put our case as a global industry.í Marsh said.

He continued: íI believe the European Union has developed sensible regulation in a variety of employment areas including equality and involvement but I am concerned that much of which is developed is not measured against the impact globally or on the employment relationship within Europe.í

Marsh referred to the proposals of the Austrian Presidency in íflexi-curityí and the continuing debate on working time to illustrate íareas where the EU needs to move on and look at how it can provide genuine employment leadership and support to what is Europeís most productive industry.í