Hundreds of small businesses in Essex are worried they cannot cope with the raft of new legislation on workers rights.
They claim the 26 Acts relating to employment on the statute book is making it difficult for small firms to administer.
Government plans include improved conditions for temporary workers, more rights for striking employees and bank holiday entitlements for all.
A survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), representing more than 2,000 firms, found the volume, complexity and rate change of legislation a major obstacle to growth.
The FSB wants a period of stabililty in the next parliament to allow employers and employees to get to grips with the currrent rights and responsibilities.
Essex regional organiser Terry Taber said: "Small businesses employ over 50 per cent of the private sector employees, some 12 mllion workers. But most small firms do not have a personnel manager or HR department, so any increase in administrative burden can have a direct influence on their ability to create jobs."
Published Wednesday August 4, 2004
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