Government urged to introduce short-time working scheme
22-04-2009
A coalition of organisations in the UK is urging the government to introduce a short-time working scheme to help industry and workers through the recession.
The TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), EEF the manufacturers' organisation, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Work Foundation have written to the chancellor of the exchequer to bring in a programme that would allow struggling firms to reduce workers' hours rather than make job cuts.
Under the proposals, employees could be partially compensated for lost earnings and use the spare time to participate in government-backed training.
Commenting on the recommendations, BCC director general David Frost said: "Successful initiatives from previous recessions should be revisited and applied to the present climate - a short-time working scheme is one of them."
This news follows the revelation that UK-based workers are increasingly applying for jobs in agriculture and other seasonal professions that have previously been more popular with overseas labourers.
Vegetable supplier Thanet Earth reported that 214 out of 217 applications it recently received for 30 advertised positions were from British candidates.
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