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Brexit: Government considers scrapping some EU labour laws Brexit: Government considers scrapping some EU labour laws
(about 1 hour later)
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has confirmed the government is looking at scrapping some EU labour laws now it is no longer bound by the bloc's rules.Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has confirmed the government is looking at scrapping some EU labour laws now it is no longer bound by the bloc's rules.
It comes after he denied reports of plans to dilute some workers' rights. But he promised there would be no dilution of workers' rights.
Measures under consideration include relaxing the working time directive which enshrines a 48-hour week.Measures under consideration include relaxing the working time directive which enshrines a 48-hour week.
But shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said the government wanted to take a "wrecking ball" to hard-won rights. Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband warned the government wanted to take a "wrecking ball" to hard-won rights.
Earlier this week Mr Kwarteng said he wanted to "protect and enhance" workers' rights after the Financial Times reported that some rules could be weakened.Earlier this week Mr Kwarteng said he wanted to "protect and enhance" workers' rights after the Financial Times reported that some rules could be weakened.
The minister later told business leaders the UK had an opportunity to reform regulation derived from EU law, but would not deliberately antagonise the EU - its biggest trading partner - immediately after the Brexit deal.The minister later told business leaders the UK had an opportunity to reform regulation derived from EU law, but would not deliberately antagonise the EU - its biggest trading partner - immediately after the Brexit deal.
UK not going to do anything to make EU 'go crazy'UK not going to do anything to make EU 'go crazy'
Minister denies plan to scrap some workers' rightsMinister denies plan to scrap some workers' rights
Confirming the review on Tuesday, Mr Kwarteng told MPs there would be no "bonfire of rights".Confirming the review on Tuesday, Mr Kwarteng told MPs there would be no "bonfire of rights".
"I think the view was that we wanted to look at the whole range of issues relating to our EU membership and examine what we wanted to keep, if you like," he said."I think the view was that we wanted to look at the whole range of issues relating to our EU membership and examine what we wanted to keep, if you like," he said.
But he said "the idea that we are trying to whittle down standards, that's not at all plausible or true".But he said "the idea that we are trying to whittle down standards, that's not at all plausible or true".
'High wage, high employment''High wage, high employment'
Appearing before MPs, the business secretary said: "I'm very struck as I look at EU economies how many EU countries - I think it's about 17 or 18 - have essentially opted out of the working time directive.Appearing before MPs, the business secretary said: "I'm very struck as I look at EU economies how many EU countries - I think it's about 17 or 18 - have essentially opted out of the working time directive.
"So even by just following that we are way above the average European standard and I want to maintain that. I think we can be a high-wage, high-employment economy, a very successful economy, and that's what we should be aiming for.""So even by just following that we are way above the average European standard and I want to maintain that. I think we can be a high-wage, high-employment economy, a very successful economy, and that's what we should be aiming for."
We are not going to lower the standards of workers’ rightsThe UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world - going further than the EU in many areas We want to protect and enhance workers’ rights going forward, not row back on them https://t.co/HUsL7bpOK0We are not going to lower the standards of workers’ rightsThe UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world - going further than the EU in many areas We want to protect and enhance workers’ rights going forward, not row back on them https://t.co/HUsL7bpOK0
Mr Miliband said that after denying the FT's report, Mr Kwarteng had now "let the cat out of the bag" in admitting the government was conducting a review of.Mr Miliband said that after denying the FT's report, Mr Kwarteng had now "let the cat out of the bag" in admitting the government was conducting a review of.
He warned that opting out of the 48-hour week would harm workers in key sectors like the NHS, road haulage and airlines from working excessive hours.He warned that opting out of the 48-hour week would harm workers in key sectors like the NHS, road haulage and airlines from working excessive hours.
"A government committed to maintaining existing protections would not be reviewing whether they should be unpicked. This exposes that the government's priorities for Britain are totally wrong.""A government committed to maintaining existing protections would not be reviewing whether they should be unpicked. This exposes that the government's priorities for Britain are totally wrong."
Drew Hendry, the SNP's business spokesman, echoed the criticism, accusing the government of planning an "assault" on workers' rights.Drew Hendry, the SNP's business spokesman, echoed the criticism, accusing the government of planning an "assault" on workers' rights.
Under the post Brexit trade deal with the EU, the UK has agreed to conditions that maintain fair competition, or a level playing field, between the two sides.Under the post Brexit trade deal with the EU, the UK has agreed to conditions that maintain fair competition, or a level playing field, between the two sides.
However, the EU's ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida, said Brussels could retaliate if Boris Johnson's government went too far in with deregulation.However, the EU's ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida, said Brussels could retaliate if Boris Johnson's government went too far in with deregulation.
"It will be for us to judge the extent to which it violates this principle of 'level playing field' and if that is the case there are mechanisms in the treaty, in the agreement, that allow us to discuss and eventually to come to an understanding," he said on Tuesday."It will be for us to judge the extent to which it violates this principle of 'level playing field' and if that is the case there are mechanisms in the treaty, in the agreement, that allow us to discuss and eventually to come to an understanding," he said on Tuesday.
"If no understanding there are retaliation measures that can be applied on both sides.""If no understanding there are retaliation measures that can be applied on both sides."