Although the government is ignoring the importance of people in company reporting regulations, Tony Blair has acknowledged that workplace issues will be a key factor in the forthcoming election.
Last week, the prime minister announced that childcare and immigration will be on the pledge card that will form a central plank of Labour’s general election campaign.
The party produced ‘policy promise cards’ in 1997 and 2001, distributing them with election leaflets.
This time, there will be six pledges: tough on immigration; boosting childcare; cutting NHS waiting times; improving school discipline; low inflation and mortgage rates; and extension of the ‘Right to Buy’ housing scheme.
Immigration has been high on the political agenda in recent weeks. Last week, the government announced that employers could face fines of up to 2,000 per person for using illegal immigrants.
Labour also plans to introduce a points-based system for student and work migrants to ensure only those with filling skills gaps will be allowed to stay in the UK.
Childcare is also expected to play a key role in the election. Last year, chancellor Gordon Brown sketched out a 10-year strategy on childcare in a bid to make Labour the party of working parents.
The plans came on the back of the Tories’ own, but very different, proposals on work-life balance.
