5. Vulnerable Workers: A European Community Solution? Available to Purchase

It is perhaps surprising that in recent years the most persuasive and optimistic response to the problems encountered by vulnerable workers has emanated from the European Community (EC). The 1970s saw a growing involvement of the EC in social policy and labour law: in particular, there have been a significant number of proposed measures emerging from the EC Commission. Many of these measures could have a far‐reaching potential, particularly for vulnerable workers in the United Kingdom. However, in recent years, progress at the EC level has been slow and has now reached almost a complete standstill, largely due to the opposition of the governments of the member states led by the British Government. As a consequence, the EC programme has become beset by legal, institutional and political wrangles as to how far the EC can and should intervene in national labour markets.