The following has been supplied by the TUC:
Increasing the time before workers are protected from unfair dismissal from one year to two years could leave 2.7 million people at increased risk of losing their jobs, the TUC has warned. The TUC says the government-imposed changes, which took effect on 6 April, will increase job insecurity, discriminate against younger workers, part-time women workers and employees from black and ethnic (BME) communities, and encourage more of a 'hire and fire' culture in the UK. TUC says the reforms have been pushed through by the government despite having little support from business. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The government's proposals to weaken unfair dismissal rights risk generating a 'hire and fire' culture in the UK and will lead to the creation of insecure employment which is here today and gone tomorrow. Cutting back on protection against unfair dismissal will do nothing to boost the economy. If people are constantly in fear of losing their jobs it will lead to even less consumer spending, and losing your job is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone, especially when unemployment is so high.' He added: 'Businesses have told the government that above all they need the economy to be growing and the banks to get lending again. The government appears to be reacting to pressure from backbench Conservative MPs rather than actual business concerns.' Job insecurity has been linked to higher rates of injuries at work and of work-related suicides, sickness and ill-health. It has also been shown to drive down productivity.
