So far as employment law is concerned removing ourselves from the EU would free us up to make all sorts of decisions for ourselves . However , much of the regulation in place provides individuals with rights which they feel have been hard one . Should there be no reasonable minimum standards about rest periods , hours worked , holiday entitlement and maternity leave ? If the answer to these questions is yes then , from an employment law perspective , leaving the EU would allow us to lower those standards .
The cost of any newly won freedom would result in permanently being outside of our nearest market . We would have no influence at all on how it runs its affairs .
To gain access to the EU ’ s single market , without having to abide by its rules , we will need a supremely good offering – something we don ’ t have at present . It is extremely unlikely that the UK can negotiate opt outs from provisions that Norway , which is not in the EU , has to adopt and yet still remain in the EU , let alone win better terms than the Swiss .
At present we do not know what the “ in or out vote ” will be about . Out is simple , but expect a dash for bilateral agreements if that decision is taken . David Cameron has said he will push for the UK to remain in but on the basis of better terms he has yet to negotiate or spell out . The seismic impact his ideas could have on the operation of the EU are such that it could take years to debate them . By promising a referendum by the end of 2017 he has not given himself enough time , even if he was being realistic about the demands . A failure to negotiate anything would make a referendum redundant as he would only be able to achieve any sort of change in the relationship with the EU by leaving . At present it looks like an “ out or out ” referendum .
The only hope is that the rhetoric will decrease and real world issues will be examined , without reference to unwanted metaphors or political posturing . This is a distant hope in the current climate where only one side of the argument is being aired .
In the meanwhile we should note that in Switzerland , the grass itself is very green in the summer . But before we get too excited it is nothing to do with being outside the EU .
By Martin Williams
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