Government publishes employment strategy

18 April:

The Government has published a strategy paper setting out its commitments on employment relations with an increased focus on vulnerable workers and those who abuse them. Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson said that "the new rights we have introduced are taking root - from the National Minimum Wage to the right to four weeks' annual leave. This means we can now concentrate our enforcement on the minority of bad businesses who take advantage of the most vulnerable workers, further protecting such workers and benefiting legitimate companies".

The Government says it will:

� ensure all workers are paid for bank holidays in addition to the existing four weeks' holiday entitlement
� roll out minimum wage enforcement pilots, started in 2005 in the hairdressing sector, to other sectors and employment agencies that exploit vulnerable workers

� ensure employees are aware of their employment rights by providing online and telephone help
� identify ways to simplify employment law by reviewing discrimination law, redundancy payments and dispute resolution procedures. The 52-page document also includes the Government's current position on collective bargaining on pensions, its latest national training programme and provisions to protect vulnerable employees when businesses are transferred.

The strategy document, "Success at Work - protecting vulnerable workers, supporting good employers", can be downloaded at [http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/successatwork.htm]