TUC welcome for smokefree regulations

The TUC today welcomed the Government’s consultation on the proposed smokefree regulations that will see smoking banned in workplaces and other public places in England next year.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, said: While we may not agree on all the points of detail, the draft regulations provide an excellent working framework for ensuring that all workplaces become smoke-free, with maximum compliance and the minimum of difficulty.

But we hope that employers whose workplaces are not yet smoke-free will not wait until next summer before banning smoking. Employers should be working with unions and staff over the coming months to make sure that a smoke-free environment is introduced gradually with the full support and involvement of the workforce.