The Government has agreed to put the employers' liability crisis on its agenda, following a meeting today with Mike Williams chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers' Association, (BIBA), senior Treasury officials and the Department for Work and Pensions.
According to Biba, officials were receptive to the proposals that BIBA believes could ease the crisis in the short and long term.
Officials said that they would examine the options for going forward to help the hundreds of small and medium-sized business that are either going out of business because they cannot afford high EL premiums, or who are operating illegally without insurance.
Williams presented the results of a survey that BIBA undertook among its broker members, which shows that some of the key business sectors affected are scaffolders, metal fabricators, coach companies, private mines, children's nurseries, haulage companies, consulting engineers, roofing contractors and couriers.
The officials said they plan to hold talks again to explore the issues further following the industry conference organised by BIBA and the ABI on 6 September at which many national trade associations and other interested parties will come together to address the EL crisis and discuss possible solutions.
