Information on Loughborough

Reed Welcomes Flexibility For Local Workers in Loughborough

Posted on 12/06/08

welder at work

Loughborough MP Andy Reed has welcomed news that the Employment Council in Luxembourg have reached agreement on the draft Agency Workers Directive and the draft Directive on Working Time which is good news for local workers in Loughborough.

The agreement provides a fair deal for workers, who can continue to work longer hours and earn overtime if they wish. It also hugely valuable to the British economy and means businesses can cope during busy times.

The UKs flexible labour market has one of the highest levels of job creation in Europe, along with a framework of rights like the National Minimum Wage, maternity and paternity pay and leave, 24-days holidays and strong health and safety provisions to protect all workers.

The Loughborough MP Andy Reed said: This is very good news for workers in Loughborough. It provides a fair deal for workers, without damaging Britains economic competitiveness or putting jobs at risk. This agreement means that people remain free to earn overtime and businesses can cope during busy times.

Securing the right for people to work longer if they choose to do so is hugely valuable to the British economy. Flexible working is one of the reasons we have record employment levels in the UK, and I am also pleased there is extra support for agency workers, as agency work also provides an important route back to work for the unemployed.

It is worth remembering that while the Labour Government is increasing protection for agency workers the Tories spokesman Alan Duncan says these moves are misguided and unnecessary. I think that local workers deserve protecting and to be given positive choices concerning their own futures.

-Ends-

Background Information

The new Working Time Directive means:

That British workers can still sign an opt-out agreement so they can work more than 48-hours if they choose;

Extra flexibility has been built in for workers on short term contracts. Workers on short-term contracts dont have to wait to sign the opt out.

New protections for workers including cooling off period of six months after people sign the opt-out to change their minds.

The Working Time Directive will not impact on the UKs successful system for prioritising parents and carers in the right to request flexible working.

The updated deal on working time clarifies the position of "on-call" workers, whose "on-call" time until now has been deemed to count entirely as working time. The new deal distinguishes between "active" on-call time, which counts towards the maximum working week, and "inactive" working time - such as an uninterrupted nights sleep while on call - which does not.

A cap has been agreed on the maximum working week for opted-out workers of 60 hours, averaged out over a three month period, called a reference period, to accommodate peaks in working during that time.

The three month reference period means that workers on short term contracts of ten weeks or less can choose to work longer than 60 hours a week in order to earn enough money to support themselves during parts of the year when they are not working. For example, people working in entertainment or at sporting events that sometimes require intense periods of work for short periods.

Workers on longer contracts have the flexibility of a longer reference period, with the time for calculating an average weeks work set at six months.

Agency Workers Directive

The agreement on agency working represents a fair deal for agency workers while retaining the important flexibility for businesses to hire staff for short-term and seasonal contracts or during busy times:

The deal on agency workers follows a joint declaration signed by the CBI and TUC last month agreeing to a 12-week qualifying period for agency workers to be given equal treatment with permanent staff.

Equal treatment means at least the basic working and employment conditions that would apply if the worker had been recruited to occupy the same job as a permanent member of staff. That means pay, holidays, overtime, breaks, rest periods, night work and duration of working time. It does not cover occupational security schemes.

Many agency workers choose this type of work for a variety of reasons. Research suggests a large proportion of people work in agencies by choice

Latest Loughborough News

Easter Holiday Events in Leicestershire to view online

Created: Wednesday 17th of March 2010 06:30:01 PM

Leicestershire,Loughborough

Community Services17 March 2010Easter Holiday Events in Leicestershire to view onlineLeicestershire museums, libraries and country parks will be hosting numerous events, many of which are free throughout the school holidays to keep the family entertained across the county. There’s something for everyone, whether your family enjoy arts and crafts, games and puzzles, historical or nature events....

Read More: Easter Holiday Events in Leicestershire to view online

‘In the Frame’ winner announced at Harborough Museum

Created: Wednesday 17th of March 2010 04:30:02 PM

Leicestershire,Loughborough

Community Services 17 March 2010. ....

Read More: ‘In the Frame’ winner announced at Harborough Museum

Praise for long serving school governors

Created: Wednesday 17th of March 2010 04:30:01 PM

Leicestershire,Loughborough

17 March 2010Praise for long serving school governorsPhoto Opportunity: School governors from all over the County will be thanked for serving their local communities at a special reception hosted by Roger Wilson, the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council.  The event is taking place at County Hall on Tuesday 23rd March at 5....

Read More: Praise for long serving school governors

Park and ride scoops two awards

Created: Wednesday 17th of March 2010 12:30:01 PM

Leicestershire,Loughborough

17 March 2010Park and ride scoops two awardsThe Enderby park and ride scheme has scooped two awards in the Parking Review British Parking Awards 2010. The £9....

Read More: Park and ride scoops two awards

Recycled humps, quieter bumps

Created: Wednesday 17th of March 2010 10:30:01 AM

Leicestershire,Loughborough

17 March 2010Recycled humps, quieter bumpsRubber speed bumps are being used to cut traffic speed in Syston. The innovative safety measures, made from recycled rubber tyres, are the first of their kind in Leicestershire and have been put in along Barkby Road....

Read More: Recycled humps, quieter bumps

Related Loughborough News

Loughborough MP Welcomes Announcement on Agency Workers Equal Rights

Created: Thursday 22nd of May 2008 10:22:00 AM

jobs

New deal will bring approximately 1.4 million UK agency workers onto a level playing field with permanent staff...

Read More: Loughborough MP Welcomes Announcement on Agency Workers Equal Rights

Reed Supports Campaign on Pay and Work Rights

Created: Wednesday 4th of November 2009 01:11:43 PM

News

Andy Reed supports the drive by Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) to let workers know their rights...

Read More: Reed Supports Campaign on Pay and Work Rights

Older workers - why businesses need to rethink their policies

Created: Wednesday 11th of March 2009 05:03:03 PM

News

Leicester researcher warns that with the prospect of an older workforce, businesses need to provide more training for older workers...

Read More: Older workers - why businesses need to rethink their policies

Loughborough MP welcomes fair tips

Created: Friday 1st of August 2008 12:10:00 PM

wages

Andy Reed MP welcomes the announcement on fair tips and the minimum wage and calls for rogue employers who con staff to be exposed. ...

Read More: Loughborough MP welcomes fair tips

Pensioners Pensions

Created: Tuesday 18th of December 2007 01:24:04 PM

pensioners in london

Loughborough MP Andy Reed welcomed news today that Leicestershire pensioners from the collapsed BUSM scheme are to get greater help following an announcement from the Labour government today. Some 125,000 workers who lost pensions when their employers went bust before 2005 are to be given greater help, the government announced today. Some of them are part of the collapsed BUSM scheme in Leicestershire....

Read More: Pensioners Pensions

Most Read Loughborough News (today)

Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Created: Friday 18th of July 2008 11:00:00 AM

graffiti

A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough....

Read More: Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Ladybird Survey

Created: Tuesday 29th of April 2008 09:03:00 AM

ladybird

Ladybirds ( or ladybugs if you are American) are loved by the public but now help is needed to monitor local numbers as an invasive species called the harlequin ladybird spreads across England....

Read More: Ladybird Survey

Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

Created: Wednesday 2nd of July 2008 03:31:00 PM

police officer

14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places....

Read More: Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

Robot in Loughborough Town Centre

Created: Tuesday 27th of May 2008 03:50:00 PM

robot

Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites....

Read More: Robot in Loughborough Town Centre

Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire

Created: Tuesday 22nd of July 2008 04:45:00 PM

social care

Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week. The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July)....

Read More: Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire

Most Read Loughborough News (this month)

Loughborough Astra Zeneca Closure

Created: Tuesday 2nd of March 2010 04:03:15 PM

News

Charnwood Borough Council has today learned that the Astra Zeneca has decided to close its facility in Loughborough by the end of 2011. The announcement is a huge blow and a major loss of employment in the Borough and in Loughborough in particular. ...

Read More: Loughborough Astra Zeneca Closure

Family of Ernest Mathers pay tribute to him

Created: Saturday 20th of February 2010 07:49:32 AM

police,constabulary,leicestershire police

Family of Ernest Mathers pay tribute to him Ernest pictured with his common law wife Nina The family of a man killed in a road traffic collision have paid tribute to him. 46-year-old Ernest Mathers from Doncaster was killed in a road traffic collision at around 1....

Read More: Family of Ernest Mathers pay tribute to him

Action group to meet regarding Astra Zeneca announcement

Created: Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 11:03:57 AM

News

An action group consisting of local organisations is to meet on Friday to discuss yesterday s (Tue) announcement by Astra Zeneca. Charnwood Borough Council has organised the urgent meeting after the pharmaceutical firm announced it will close its operation in the town by the end of next year. This will mean a loss of nearly 1,200 jobs. ...

Read More: Action group to meet regarding Astra Zeneca announcement

Appeal following incident at Loughborough University

Created: Friday 26th of February 2010 08:10:01 PM

police,constabulary,leicestershire police

Appeal following incident at Loughborough UniversityPolice are appealing for witnesses following the report of a serious sexual assault in Loughborough. The incident is alleged to have happened sometime between 1....

Read More: Appeal following incident at Loughborough University

Thirteen people arrested in 'Bling' crackdown

Created: Wednesday 24th of February 2010 10:20:01 PM

cannabis, weed, drugs

Thirteen people arrested in 'Bling' crackdownThirteen people have been arrested in the first phase of a Force-wide operation to crackdown on criminals living lavish lifestyles from the proceeds of crime. The ‘Too Much Bling? Give us a Ring’ campaign was launched on February 10, 2010, encouraging members of the public to call Crimestoppers anonymously to let police know of any people who may be living beyond their means from drug money or ill gotten gains....

Read More: Thirteen people arrested in 'Bling' crackdown