All employers must take the pledge

Commenting on Gordon Brown and Alan Johnsonís comments on the employersí Skills Pledge in the DfESí press release, Liz Smith, director of unionlearn, the TUCís learning and skills organisation said:

The Governmentís plan for an employersí Skills Pledge is a welcome move to try and bring the one third of employers on board who have been refusing to train their staff. Unions with the help of unionlearn have been showing for some years how to make such a pledge real, and have so far signed over 400 learning agreements with employers which have benefited workers, employers, and many companies. The Government sponsored skills review by Lord Leitch stated that if insufficient employers have taken the pledge in three years time then a legal entitlement should be introduced. Unions will now be monitoring progress and identifying those employers who are still dragging their feet and not taking the pledge. Over 15,000 union learning reps helped more than 100,000 people to improve their skills last year.