New Employment Paper Will Extend Workers' Rights and Help Business - Bruce

5.18.15pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 9th Mar 2005

Commenting on the Liberal Democrat conference debate on Rights and Responsibilities at Work (Employment Policy Paper), Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Malcolm Bruce MP, said:

"This paper seeks to extend the rights of people at work without over-burdening businesses with extra costs and red tape.

"It is consistent with our commitment to dignity at work as well as the pro-business policies set out in our paper, 'Setting Business Free', and enshrined in our soon to be published Business Manifesto.

"We propose fair and practical policies on the immigration that is essential to the UK's economic future.

"We recognise the essential role of trade unions and the right to strike. We also recognise the need to keep key services working, and where no-strike deals are not operational, we recommend as a last resort that the Government should impose compulsory binding arbitration where key national services and infrastructure are threatened by industrial action."