Part-time rules set for shake up
The Government has unveiled proposals to give Britain's part-time employees the same rights as full-time workers.
The proposals, outlined in a consultation document, cover pay, pensions, training and holidays.
Part-timers would be entitled to the same hourly rate as comparable full-time employees and the same hourly rate of overtime.
It would also be illegal for employers to exclude them from training simply because they work part-time.
They would also get the same rights to annual leave and maternity/parental leave on a pro-rata basis as full-time colleagues.
Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers said: "We want to establish a minimum standard of fairness for part-timers so that no longer will they be treated less favourably than the full-timers they work alongside.
"These proposals will also help the vast majority of employers who already follow good practice and are being undercut by less scrupulous competitors."
The hospitality industry is expected to be most affected by the new regulations as it has a higher proportion of part-time staff (19%) than other industries.
Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, was surprised that proposed rules were much simpler than expected. "There was supposed to be consultation at a national level on issues such as what items could be left out of the comparison," he said.
The association is meeting tomorrow to discuss its response to the proposals.
The consultation will last until 27 February, with the new rules due to be implemented by 7 April.
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