TUC calls for investment in manufacturing and high-tech jobs
The TUC has called for the government, businesses and trade unions to work together to create 1m more manufacturing and hi-tech jobs across the UK by 2030.
The TUC revealed that manufacturing is a vital part of UK economy and believes the industry could be rebooted with new needs such as tackling global warming, robotics and artificial intelligence.
In the All Tomorrow’s Jobs report, the government a target to create a million more manufacturing and high-tech jobs by 2030 and unveils five priority policies to help deliver the target.
The report also noted that The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) aims to bring together UK researchers and businesses as part of a £4.7bn government investment in R&D over four years. The TUC suggests that from this investment at least one third of the money must be directed towards investments which are known to provide quality employment.
It also called for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) be required to develop local growth strategies and join with other LEPs where it this makes sense geographically. LEPs should work with trade unions at the local level to develop these strategies.
The TUC also said all workers should have access to a mid-life training review to assess their skills and government must reintroduce individual learning accounts to give everyone a personalised budget for training.
Regarding the UK’s imminent divorce from the European Union next year, the TUC advised the government stay in the single market and the customs union to retain barrier-free, tariff-free, frictionless trade in goods and ensure that workers continue to be protected by EU levels of rights.