The government’s announcement today (Wednesday 10) that it is removing the requirement for employer’s to record how many hours employees work has been branded a “boost for bad bosses” by Unite, the UK’s leading union.

Abolition of record keeping

Under its plans employers will no longer be required to keep records to ensure that the 48 hours working time limit is being adhered to and that limits on how many hours workers can operate at night are being followed.

The removal of requiring employers to record night work is especially worrying as working excessive periods at night has been linked with an increased risk of developing cancer and diabetes.

Bad bosses boost

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government so-called attack on red tape is nothing more than a boost for bad bosses and will pile more misery on workers.

“Removing the requirement for employers to record workers’ hours, means that the regulations effectively become unenforceable.

“Unscrupulous employers will use these emasculated regulations to exploit young or unorganised workers. Cutting red tape? More like a playbook for profiteering”

Notes to editors

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.