§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what recommendations are made as to early consultation of employees before any close-down, relocation or collective redundancies occur, in any literature passing from his Department to employers.
§ Mr. Chichester ClarkMy Department's recommendations follow the Code of Industrial Relations Practice which, as regards closures and redundancies, requires management to consult employees or their representatives before taking the final decision to make any substantial reduction in the workforce unless exceptional circumstances make this impossible.
The consultations should cover the practicability of alternative measures such as redeployment within the firm, work sharing, restricting recruitment, or retirements. Where redundancy is necessary, the consultations should also cover the arrangements for handling it.
Relocation is covered by the code requirement that major changes in working arrangements should not be made by management without prior discussion with employees or their representatives.