1779 Toe
The Congren
Congress Report.
(173) SEX DISCRIMINATION
PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION
It was reported to last year's Congress that the General Council had, in their submission of evidence to the Equal Opportunities Commission on certain provisions of health and safety legislation which require males and females to be treated differently, emphasised their opposition to the proposed repeal of protective legislation, and proposed that it be extended. In a further development, in December 1978, the General Council considered a Health and Safety Commission discussion document on prohibitions and restrictions for medical reasons; restriction on hours of employment and provisions for holidays; and regulations of age of entry into industrial employment and age restrictions for particular occupations. The TUC invited the views of affiliated unions.
The General Council informed the HSC, that in their view, there was a continuing need to retain age based protective legislation in order to help young people of both sexes to cope with the physical and psychological strains in the transition from school to work. The TUC said that it did not accept that medical considerations were irrelevant to the question of age-based protective legislation. The TUC also believed that there were strong social reasons for continuing restrictions.
They said there was a continuing need for the control of work experience schemes to ensure that they are fulfilling the purpose of being of an educational
value, and not simply used for a specific vocational purpose. The General Council considered that the aim would be assisted by the replacement of local byelaws by regulations made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Security.
In March 1979, the Report of the Equal Opportunities Commission was published. Among its main conclusions was a proposal that, with the exception of some protection for existing workers, the hours provisions in the Factories Act should be generally abolished, though the Baking Industry (Hours of Work) Act should be extended to women, and there should be improvements in the welfare provisions for all workers on night work.
While welcoming the proposal to extend the protection in the baking industry and improvements in welfare, the TUC said that it would not support any proposals that reduced the levels of protective legislation for any workers, whether men or women and that the first principle concerning the working life of young persons, women and men must be their health, safety and welfare.
In July 1979, the General Council considered the EOC's Report and decided to invite the comments of affiliated organisations, but in the meantime, the TUC members of the Health and Safety Commission should not support any proposals for action on these matters.