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More EU, more cheap labour
Page 8
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• British hauliers should brace themselves for another invasion of cut-price foreign operators once the European Union expands, warns the International Road Transport Union ( IRU).
At present hauliers from outside the EU are restricted on the work they do within the 15 member states by the ECMT permit system.
However, once countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary are absorbed into the EU in 2004 there will be fewer restrictions governing the work they can do.
Guy Willis, spokesman for the IAIJ, says: "It is already an issue in the UK with the loss of market share—this will simply multiply that. However there may be some benefits with East European firms being brought under the EU's social legislation," James Hookham, director of policy at the Freight Transport Association, says that European expansion will also bring business opportunities for British hauliers, adding: "I think that there is more to be gained as an economy as a whole by opening up the markets.
"It's up to British industry to see this as an opportunity rather than a threat."
But he warns that there could be still be more foreign trucks over here as French and German hauliers become displaced from their traditional
markets by east European competition.
Despite the fears of cutprice competition, outspoken haulier Stuart Archbold of Leeds-based firm Archbold Freightage argues against regulation to prevent this.
He says: "I think a level playing field is anti-competitive; there should be differences between countries.
"If drivers want to work harder and longer then they should be free to."
II Those hoping to join the EU in 2004: Czech Republic; Hungary; Latvia; Lithuania: Estonia; Slovakia; Poland; Slovenia; Cyprus; Matta. Those hoping to join in 2007: Bulgaria and Romania,