This report reviews the present situation regarding the use of temporary agency work (TAW) in European Union Member States. It examines arrangements for social dialogue and collective bargaining at national level across the EU. It examines the role of collective bargaining in determining such
The objectives of the report are to investigate how companies in three sectors: the automobile industry, the banking business and road haulage experience EMU with regard to the practicalities of the introduction of the EURO, industrial relations, pay, employment, working conditions, restructuring of
This report, commissioned by the sectoral social dialogue committee on temporary agency work, is based on an EIRO comparative study of temporary agency work in the enlarged EU. The questionnaire survey gathered responses across 28 countries – the 25 EU Member States, as well as Norway and the
The way to EMU has deeply changed the macroeconomic conditions of the British economy. This report looks at the main features of industrial relations in the United Kingdom. It analyses the impact on three sectors: banking and finance, automotive and road haulage, which have undergone or are
There is mounting evidence that employers see working time change as a key to competitive advantage. According to the most recent results of the Warwick /pay and working time survey/, which has been conducted each summer from 1995 to 1999, some of the most significant initiatives to improve
In 1999, 31 December will be a one-off additional public holiday in the UK to mark the new millennium. This has contributed an additional upward pressure for greater pay and time off in lieu for workers obliged to work over the new year holiday period. The main jobs affected by millennium working
In July 1999, as part of an investigation into the employment and industrial relations implications for the UK of EU Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), and specifically the single currency, the House of Commons employment subcommittee heard evidence from senior management representatives of two
The Labour government views its "family-friendly" policies as a major initiative underpinning its efforts to reconcile flexibility, competitiveness and improved employment rights. The Employment Relations Bill [1] (UK9902180F [2]), published in January 1999 and due to become law in the summer
In spite of a long-term fall in the size of the industrial workforce, manufacturing remains a very important part of the UK economy which accounts for almost one in five of all employees. Recently, however, the continued relative strength of the UK currency has had deleterious effects on
Annualised hours have long been seen as a cost-efficient means of delivering labour flexibility in industries which are subject to varying levels of demand or which have extended operating times. The basic principle behind annualised hours contracts is that working time is defined in terms of the
In April 1997 the European Commission published a Green Paper on Partnership for a new organisation of work [1] (EU9707134F [2]). It argued that the key to improving competitiveness and employment was "through a better organisation of work at the workplace, based on high skill, high trust and high
On 13 August 1998, the Department for Education and Employment (DOFEE) published the report of its consultation process on age discrimination [1], which had been launched in October 1997. This involved a wide-ranging and informal set of meetings and submissions involving interested parties such as
The 1997 /Warwick pay and working time survey/ shows, on the one hand, that formal "benchmarking", or even measurement, of employee performance is not as common in the UK as might be expected. Benchmarking against the international competition is particularly infrequent, even where firms are
When the new Labour Government came to power in May 1997, it was quick to highlight its intention to implement a National Minimum Wage (NMW) (UK9704125F [1]). Within 90 days of being in government, Labour had appointed a Low Pay Commission (LPC) to advise on the introduction and operation of the NMW