Churches seek fairer deal for workers

The Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the United Reformed Church are to meet government officials this Friday to press for workers' rights.

Church policy advisers and delegates from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will the challenges faced by the 3.5 million people in Britain who are not protected by employment laws and how their rights in the work place could be enforced.

The symposium in central London follows discussions between the Rev David Gamble, President of the Methodist Conference, with trade union leaders at the TUC Conference in September and correspondence between the three Churches and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

David Gamble, President of the Methodist Church in Britain, expressed his concern for agency staff and people on informal contracts, saying they were the most vulnerable and lowest paid workers in the country.

"They are mostly women, mostly immigrants working in domestic or farm labouring jobs and have absolutely no rights that are enforceable. They can be sacked at a moment’s notice for no reason," he said.

"We have asked the Government to change the regulations so that these people have rights and that these rights are enforced.

“Our work is part of what it means to be human, part of our spirituality. When we work we give more than just our labour; we give of ourselves. Human beings are not machines to be disposed of after ten minutes; a worker deserves fairness and dignity.”

Representatives from The Muslim Council of Great Britain, Oxfam and Citizens Advice Bureau have also been invited to attend the symposium.

The Rev John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, said many people had been affected by the "injustices and insecurities" arising from jobs unprotected by employment legislation.

"The growing gap between the highest paid 10 per cent and the lowest paid 10 per cent - and its underlying implication about the relative worth of persons - is an unpalatable part of modern life," he said.

"We are in full support of any legislation that seeks to protect workers and moves towards equality in the workplace and society.”

The Rev Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, stated: “An imbalance in power in the worker-employer relationship can quickly lead to mistreatment, exploitation and poverty.

"Vulnerable workers often have little access to advice and don’t know what rights they do have.

"These issues urgently need to be addressed and tighter regulation introduced in those sectors where the risks are greatest.”