2 August 2010
Why the City Corporation wants to repeal
byelaws concerning porters at Billingsgate
The City Corporation wants Billingsgate to thrive as a
successful fish market, with full employment, and we are working
with the fish merchants in a number of areas to achieve that. On
specific points raised by Unite:
- The byelaw relevant to porters, dating from 1876, permits the
Superintendent to licence anyone of "good character and fitness" to
be a porter. The licence is, therefore, a permit to work but
does not guarantee employment, nor does it guarantee standards,
which are a matter for employers.
- The City can grant as many licences as it chooses, to anyone
who fulfils the criteria of being of good character and fit.
So this byelaw is obsolete, out-of-date, irrelevant in modern
times, and could be criticised for bureaucratically restricting
freedom of employment.
- Porters are employed by individual fish merchants and any
discussions about employment must be taken up with them or their
representative body, the London Fish Merchants
Association. The City doesn’t employ any porters.
- All other aspects of the byelaws have been reviewed and are
covered by aspects of Food Hygiene or Health & Safety
legislation, Employment Law, or can be covered in leases.
Like all markets, Billingsgate has succeeded in the past by
adapting to changing circumstances and we want to see that success
continue in an increasing competitive environment. The future of
the market is not in any way jeopardised by revoking the byelaw and
removing the licensing requirement.
Ends