Thompsons and STUC condemn attack on safety enforcement
30/05/05
Thompsons Scotland and the STUC have condemned apparent threats on safety enforcement after Chancellor Gordon Brown announced plans to reduce the red tape on business by taking a 'light touch' on laws and inspection must not result in weaker safety enforcement. Unions have variously described the regulation review as being in danger of becoming a 'cowboy?s charter.'
It was pointed out in response to the announcement that injuries and deaths at work increased last year. The government was called upon to respect the experience and expertise of staff in the frontline and not follow a slavish employer-driven agenda.
Ian Tasker of Scottish union federation STUC said a Work and Pensions select committee last year had agreed with unions and concluded rigorous safety regulation and enforcement was necessary, adding: 'We would urge the Chancellor and the Labour government to concentrate on delivering its previous commitment to protect workers before subscribing to business leaders? red tape myths'.
It was also pointed out that Britain is already the most lightly regulated OECD economy in response to the Chancellor announcement of a new deregulation drive in a Downing Street meeting with approving business leaders. The Chancellor said he would introduce 'a risk based approach to regulation to break down barriers holding enterprise back.' adding 'In a risk based approach there is no inspection without justification, no form filling without justification, and no information requirements without justification. Not just a light touch but a limited touch.' The has been widespread rejection of this approach as a read herring with various commentators pointing out that Professor Michael Porter's study for the Department of Trade and Industry identified that the UK has the lowest level of product and labour market regulations in the OECD.
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