No, this is not a quote from the MCW's ‘Reclaiming
Time' report produced in 2006. However, from the message it carries it
might as well have been. In fact it is a quote in The Observer (Sunday 4th May 2008) taken from the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment entitled ‘Hard Work, Hidden Lives'.
Brendan
Barber the TUC Leader is quoted as saying ‘While this commission
expected to find poor treatment, its extent has stunned us all ... Worst
of all, much of it took place within a legal framework that fails to
prevent exploitation. Much exploitation treatment occurs because the
law is not strong enough to prevent mistreatment...'
The
findings contained in the MCW's ‘Reclaiming Time' report are vindicated
by the TUC's Commission. Both documents reflect the stark reality of
many workers' lives today. The MCW's report and the enquiry booklet
‘Enquiry material for use with Human Life & Work in the 21st Century' which led to its publication can be used to enquire
into our everyday circumstances. This sharing of realities through the
Review of Life method leads to deeper discoveries about each others'
situations and enables a search for ways to work together in
solidarity.
Both
the MCW report and the TUC report is evidence challenging us as
Christian Workers that we should use every opportunity to call for and
campaign against such insecure employment and practices. As Fran
Bennett, Snr Research Fellow at Oxford University says "Loopholes in
the laws that are meant to protect workers must be closed."
Reclaiming Time Report is available from MCW HQ, St. Joseph's, off St Joseph's Grove, (Watford Way), London NW4 4TY. Tel 0208 203 6290 Email:
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or order online from www.mcworkers.org £6.00 including p&p
Hard Work, Hidden Lives can
be ordered from the TUC priced at £10.00 for members and £20.00 for
non-members by clicking on publications on their home page
www.tuc.org.uk
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