Letter: Employment law out of date

Sir: Dr John McMullen is right to remind us that unfair dismissal protection was introduced to offer people a "civilised" way of dealing with a problem, rather than through industrial action ("Size really doesn't matter to workers", 13 March).

Removing employment rights from millions of people cannot be the best way of relieving job insecurity, or producing a "feel-good factor". The consequences for social cohesion, when firms are able to generate rising profits with fewer people, have not yet been fully explored. Working arrangements are increasingly so diverse and flexible that the time has clearly come for a fundamental review of employment legislation.

Tony Morgan

Chief Executive

The Industrial Society

LondonWI