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Over 820,000 part time and
temporary workers risk losing rights under Brexit
OVER 820,000 part time and temporary employees in the
North West, along with over 930,000 parents, risk losing rights at work if the
UK leaves the European Union, the TUC has warned.
Rights guaranteed for these groups under EU law include time off for parents to
spend with their children, and for part time and temporary employees to have
equal pay, holidays, pensions and benefits as any permanent or full-time
colleagues doing similar jobs.
If the UK leaves the EU, these rights would no longer be guaranteed. As outlined
in a recent legal opinion by Michael Ford QC, a post-Brexit government could
weaken or entirely remove these rights; something which senior Leave
campaigners have already called for.
Boris Johnson, for example, has demanded Britain "scrap" the European
basis for these rights. He described the protections for workers as a "back breaking"
burden on business.
TUC Regional Secretary for the North West, Lynn Collins, said:- "Voting to
leave the EU is a massive risk for working people across the North West;
particularly women. Women are far more likely to be in part time or temporary
work, and many rely on parental rights to look after their children.
Brexit cheerleaders have already shown how eager they are to undermine our
working rights. Leaving the EU gives them free rein to peel away our protections
against bad bosses.
Generations of trade unionists fought for workers' rights to be legally
guaranteed. A Brexit could gamble them away." |
