News 22 - 27 March 2019

In this weeks news we cover a range of deeply depressing realities: pay gaps, modern slavery and just how far the current UK government is from the European Union when it comes to Employment Law standards.  In fact, from a distance it’s almost as if the de-regulation process had already begun.  But first, following last weeks revelations about violence in the retail sector the London Underground has held a conference to address similar issues.(2) Underground bosses met on 19th March to discuss the widespread nature of abuse experienced by workers on pretty much every level.  This week has also seen the first announcement over the cabinet’s draft text to address the gender pay gap in the UK.(3)

Never far from the front pages at the moment, the issue of ‘modern slavery’ has also seen comments from Frank Field who has highlighted the ‘rampant injustice’ of the gig economy.(4)The first slavery ‘super complaint’ has been lodged and the Police have been accused of ‘fuelling the trauma’ those caught up in the process.(5)Eastern Eye ran a story highlighting the plight of Eastern Europeans caught up in modern slavery highlighting how much more likely they are to ‘languish’ in the system than native British workers, surprise surprise.(6)

For those who either survive or who are lucky enough to avoid such appalling conditions, two stories this week have highlighted the increasing level of automation in UK industry.  The very issue which Marx cited as the ‘internal contradiction of capitalism’ in his seminary text Das Kapital, is still a serious cause for concern.  The Office for National Statistics estimates as many as 1.5 million jobs may be at risk.(7)An article in Denton’s looks at the twenty first century phenomena of RPA (Robotic Process Automation), the use of robotic software in the workplace.(8)

Finally, two articles this week perhaps underline the already steadily increasing distance between the UK and Europe, even though Brexit has technically stalled.  The European Convention on Human Rights has reported that the current UK ‘National Minimum Wage’ is actually too low!(9)The report highlighted other issues of major concern which saw the UK branded one of Europe’s worst violators.(10)

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