ISME calls for national pay deal to be abandoned

Business groups are today increasing pressure for the national pay deal to be abandoned.

ISME, which represents small and medium companies, said that the latest redundancy figures show the labour market is in danger of imploding altogether.

Figures for October show a 114% increase in redundancies compared to the same month in 2007.

The statistics show that 32,000 people have been made redundant since the start of the year, which is up 50% on last year.

ISME chief executive Mark Fielding has insisted that pay increases must be taken off the agenda.

"If we are serious about helping our businesses to survive and position themselves to take advantage of a future upturn in the global economy, it is imperative that the increases awarded under the national pay talks are suspended, in the national interest," said Fielding.