News

Many packaging companies will be put under increasing pressure by proposals set out by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the draft Queen's speech yesterday (14 May).

The Prime Minister told Parliament that he planned to extend the right to flexible working to parents with older children, bringing about 4.5 million parents into the scope of the legislation.

The government would consult on the details of implementation and aimed to introduce the right from April 2009, he said.

Rodney Steel, chief executive of the British Contract Manufacturers and Packers Association, told Packaging News: "A lot of our members are small and medium-sized companies and this legislation will put them under pressure. A lot of the work they do is seasonal, therefore flexibility is key to our members. To lose more members of staff for a week could be a nightmare.

"However, we do need to find a balance."

Brown also revealed proposals to bring forward legislation that would ensure new rules for fair treatment of agency workers.

Alan Tyrell, employment chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The current flexible working regime seems to be working, but the government should be cautious about extending it too far, which could be damaging to small businesses and, as a result, the millions of people they employ.

"Bringing in a whole new set of complicated employment regulations for temporary workers on top of that could make the situation untenable for many small businesses."

The Prime Minister also revealed plans to give every worker the right to request time to train, giving every adult a personal skills account so that they can access the training they need, with resources tailored to them.

Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, said: "Employers will be pleased that the government has ruled out compelling them to train staff irrespective of their circumstances and opted to introduce the right to request instead.

"The most effective spur for training is the mutual benefit derived by both employer and employee, not regulation."