Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill with paragraph 882 of the International Labour Organisation code on Freedom of Association.
The Government has considered the requirements set out in paragraph 822 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) code on Freedom of Association. The ILO recognises minimum service levels can be a sensible solution to protect the public from serious consequences of strikes. The Bill is clear that before making regulations setting a minimum service level (MSL) for a particular area, the lead Department must consult widely. This will give relevant trade unions the opportunity to feed in their views. Once an MSL is in place, the legislation also requires employers to consult with a relevant trade union, and have regard to their views, before issuing a work notice.