Workers' rights need more protection after Brexit - IPPR
Workers’ rights are likely to be at risk after Brexit regardless if a deal is struck with the European Union, the Institute for Public Policy Research has warned, calling for the government to ensure protections remain in place.
Protecting employment has been a key element on both sides of the discussions. The EU has demanded a common employment legislation in order ensure the UK does not gain a competitive advantage over member states, while the UK has acknowledged the importance of EU workers for some sectors of British business.
Both sides have agreed that a non-regression clause is the way to ensure workers’ rights. This is a provision that stipulates neither party will drop their labour standards below current levels.
The thinktank believes the non-regression clause is not enough to ensure protections remain in place since other trade deals struck by the EU could lead to a weakening of these rights.
Instead, the IPPR gives to alternative solutions, it proposes an ‘enhanced’ non-regression clause or a common rulebook.
An ‘enhanced’ non-regression clause could mean this protection of standards is applied in all circumstances and would include a list of specific EU-derived employment legislation which both sides will commit to maintaining.
A common rulebook would see both sides developing workers’ rights in parallel to each other.
“A ‘common rulebook’ could help the UK to become a leading light on workers’ rights post-Brexit, providing a firm basis for the UK to surpass – and not just match – EU levels of protection,” said Marley Morris, senior research follow and author of the IPPR report.