Minister visits Warwick Business School for high-level forum on employee involvement

For the second year running, the Department for Trade and Industry has asked Warwick Business School's Industrial Relations Research Unit (IRRU) to organise and host a high level round table discussion on controversial draft employment legislation.

Taking place at the University of Warwick on Monday 3 November, and part of a series of such meetings around the UK, the forum will consider the details of the draft Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations, how they will work in practice, and the sort of guidance on the new legislation that employers and employees will need. Warwick is the only academic institution asked to organise such an event.

IRRU is expecting around 20 West Midlands representatives, including leading employers, trade union officials, regional leaders of the CBI and TUC, employment lawyers, and academics to take part in the meeting, which will be chaired by Professor Paul Marginson, director of IRRU.

Gerry Sutcliffe MP, the minister at the DTI responsible for employment relations, competition and consumers, will be at the meeting to outline the government's approach to the draft Regulations and hear participants' views. He said

"The information and consultation Directive is an important landmark in employment relations in this country. Consultations carried out last year enabled a range of stakeholders to comment on the issues raised by the Directive, which proved very helpful in preparing the legislation. The government is now keen to hear about how the proposed Regulations will work in practice. Round-tables, like this one at Warwick University, are an excellent opportunity for people to comment."

Mark Hall, principal research fellow within IRRU and co-author of a recent report assessing the impact of the Directive, said:

"IRRU was delighted to be asked to host such a high profile discussion. The Directive has particularly significant implications for employment relations in the UK, so we welcome this opportunity to help shape the government's approach to its implementation."