ELLESMERE Port and Neston MP Andrew Miller has welcomed reports that the Prime Minister has stepped in to resolve the row over his private members bill to give new employment rights to 1.4 million workers employed through agencies.
Business groups have been lobbying against the bill, warning it would hit the UK’s flexible labour market and could destroy jobs.
It is now reported that the Prime Minister wants to intervene to help break the deadlock over the bitter dispute about the employment rights of agency workers.
Mr Brown has offered to hold meetings over the issue, which is fast becoming the biggest grievance among Labour MPs, Westminster sources said.
The move was made ahead of the second reading of a private member’s bill in the Commons on February 22, which is expected to receive enough support from MPs to move to the next parliamentary stage.
Mr Miller, who has put forward the bill, said he was confident of receiving the backing of the 100 MPs he needs for the bill to go to its committee stage.
“I would be extremely pleased if the Prime Minister did get personally involved because this is a problem that needs a high level involvement to find practical solutions to complex issues,” said Mr Miller.
He believed there were a range of agency jobs, such as those in agriculture, where workers deserved full employment protection from day one, but others in types of jobs this was less clear.
Mr Miller and other Labour MPs said they were encouraged by behind-the-scenes moves to try to resolve the issue, amid complaints from trade unions that the Government has been blocking legislation at home and in Europe.
Mr Miller said he hoped ministers of “whatever level” do not block the bill.
He also shrugged off accusations that, if it became law, his proposals would damage the UK’s competitiveness. He said: “If we are going to compete it will not be as a low wage economy – it is in high value goods and services.”
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said he was “ashamed” that a Labour Government had opposed legislation.
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