The proposals include embracing more flexible working, blocking regulations that will cost jobs and changing industrial relations legislation.
In a new report, Making Britain the Place to Work, the UK's leading business group highlights the importance of the UK's flexible labour market and the key role it played in minimising job losses during the recession. Now employers want to build on that flexibility, which has benefited businesses and the workforce, by supporting the right to request flexible working to all employees.
On the regulation front, the CBI wants the Government to introduce a sustainable employment test to ensure that any future employment laws help, rather than hinder, the creation of new jobs.
Strikes damage economic growth and inconvenience the public. At a time of fragile recovery, strikes should require a higher bar of support. The CBI is therefore calling for changes to rules around ballots to ensure that industrial action can only go ahead if 40% of the balloted workforce support it, as well as a simple majority of those voting. This would prevent strikes going ahead based on a relatively small turnout of particularly active members.
In addition, the consultation period for collective redundancies should be shortened from 90 days to 30 days to reduce uncertainty for staff and allow employers to reshape their workforces swiftly to respond to significant falls in demand.
John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said: "As we enter a period of fragile recovery, we need to do everything we can to create a jobs market that works for Britain, and to ensure Britain is the place to work.
"To position the UK for growth, any new employment legislation must pass a simple test of whether it will encourage job creation.
"We also need to look at changing the rules around industrial action. Strikes cause misery. They prevent ordinary people going about their daily lives, whether it's getting to work or getting the kids to school.
"Strikes also cost the economy dearly and undermine our efforts to help rebuild the economy. That is why we believe the bar needs to be raised, so strike action is not possible unless 40 per cent of the workforce has actively voted to withdraw its labour."
