Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Recommendation 4
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets
Published 21 Apr 2023
Paragraph 39
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We call on the Government to introduce, whether by statute in the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill, or by other means, a requirement a) on businesses to conduct impact assessments to understand the scope and consequences of the use of new technologies in the work place; and b) for workers to have the right to consultation and notification where the application of technology in the workplace will result in the surveillance of a worker, or result in a significant change to their work. That notification should explain in plain English what the technology is, when it is being implemented, how it will be operated, and what the impact will be on the worker. We encourage employers to involve workers in the design and implementation of new workplace technologies from the start of that process.
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, Tenth Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets (HC 306), paragraph 39, 21 April 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 20 July 2023 (deadline 21 June 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and points to a strong labour market, accepting little of the structural change recommended: it "do[es] not feel it necessary to further alter the machinery of Government" and "does not agree with the Committee's characterisation of enforcement".
- On a Ministry of Labour and related structures, it says the existing arrangements will drive effective policy, so it does "not feel it necessary to further alter the machinery of Government".
- On workplace technology, it "does not believe excessive restrictions on the use of technology are appropriate", nor that the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill is the appropriate vehicle for the Committee's wider proposals.
- On a single enforcement body, it says it must be "realistic about what we can achieve given the limits on parliamentary time" and is "reviewing what this means" for its creation.
- On a menopause leave pilot, it "does not believe that introducing or piloting a specific policy for menopause leave is necessary". On the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, it will deliver from academic year 2025/26 but says only that it "can share findings one year after it's commencement".