United Kingdom: Brexit threatens the rights of European workers, TUC warns

In a study published on 5 May, the Trade Union Congress sought to answer the question: ‘Could a bad Brexit deal reduce workers’ rights across Europe?’. The UK trade union centre puts forward the view that the country’s exit from the European Union risks curtailing the rights of workers, in particular those who are less qualified and on lower pay. The effects could be felt across the continent, because of a so-called race to the bottom.
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Three potential scenarios. The study, commissioned by the TUC and conducted by the Work Foundation, looks at the correlation between the rights of workers and the level of foreign direct investment to arrive at its conclusion. While the report says that Brexit could well lead to a ‘race to the top’, it seems however that investors – which in certain sectors may be attracted to high standards of employment rights – will flock to sectors like high-end technology where employees are productive and

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