EIROnlineThe European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) is a monitoring instrument offering news and analysis on European industrial relations. Its aim is to collect, analyse and disseminate high-quality and up-to-date information on key developments in industrial relations in Europe. It aims primarily to serve the needs of national and European level organisations of the social partners, governmental organisations and EU institutions.Government simplification plan targets employment regulation- February 26, 2007 In December 2006, the Department of Trade and Industry published new proposals for reducing administrative requirements affecting businesses. These included measures aimed at reducing the complexity and compliance costs of employment legislation, which represents the area of the departments activities that has been estimated as generating the highest costs for business.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/uk0701059i.html Major union merger moves closer- February 19, 2007 Plans are well advanced for the merger of two major trade unions Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union to form what will be the largest trade union in the UK. Following approval by the leaderships of the two unions, detailed merger plans will be the subject of membership ballots in both organisations. If endorsed by the members, the new trade union is scheduled to come into being in May 2007.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/uk0612019i.html Studies suggest employers need to be more proactive about age discrimination- February 19, 2007 A number of recent research studies suggest that age discrimination in employment remains a significant problem, albeit a declining one, especially in formal terms. Employers have not been unduly concerned by the introduction of the age discrimination regulations in October 2006; however, it is important to increase awareness of the need to be proactive about the implications of age discrimination.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/uk0612039i.html Increase in extent of performance-related pay- February 19, 2007 Findings from the Workplace Employment Relations Survey 2004, published in mid 2006, show an increase since 1998 in the proportion of British workplaces that use performance-related pay schemes. However, the incidence of profit-related payments and employee share ownership schemes has remained unchanged. Considerable variation between sectors in the use of variable pay schemes is also evident.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/uk0612059i.html Lack of access to paid time off is biggest barrier to training- February 19, 2007 A survey of union learning representatives (ULRs) published in November 2006 by unionlearn the learning and skills organisation of the Trades Union Congress finds that ULRs believe that the lack of access to paid time off is the most significant barrier to training for UK workers.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/uk0701039i.html Women still seriously under-represented in senior posts- February 19, 2007 In a survey published in January 2007, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) found that women are still not reaching the top of their professions in significant numbers across both the public and private sectors. The EOC also points out that, not only does the pace of change in senior positions remain slow in many areas, in some cases it has even reversed, despite the massive growth in womens participation in work and public life.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/uk0701049i.html Government review sets ambitious new targets for skills development- February 5, 2007 In December 2006, the government published a report which concluded that the UK must become a world leader in skills if it is to secure its future economic and social prosperity. Among the key findings, the report identifies the considerable potential of optimising human resources, and assesses current weaknesses in national skill levels. The study sets out a series of targets and recommendations, and estimates the possible financial rewards in terms of productivity and employment growth....http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/uk0612049i.html |