Civil Service Agencies: Re-employment

(asked on 14th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is his policy on the use of fire and rehire practices by departmental agencies.


Answered by
Julia Lopez Portrait
Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This question was answered on 17th June 2021

Departments are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of employment for their civil servants, in accordance with the rules of the Civil Service Management Code. The Civil Service Management Code only binds organisations that employ civil servants. Departments covered by the Civil Service Management Code are expected to communicate novel and contentious workforce proposals to the Cabinet Office as made clear by paragraph 4.

The Government has been very clear that threatening fire and rehire as a negotiating tactic is completely unacceptable. We always expect employers to treat employees fairly and in the spirit of partnership working with trade unions, where relevant, constructively.

Contracting Authorities decide the terms and conditions of the contracts they enter into with suppliers, and it is for suppliers to establish the pay, terms and conditions for their employees. Employee terms and conditions are protected by employment law when services are transferred between suppliers under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. We closely monitor strategic suppliers to improve performance, ensure value for money and to deliver policy objectives.

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