I think I need to put the often used (flawed) reason to allow cross border hiring to be put to bed once and for all. In relation to vehicles breaking down miles from home and needing help to complete the job.
1) It hardly ever happens. The firm I work with do in excess of a 1,000,000 jobs a year, included in that is a very large amount of long distance work. The Operations Manager confirmed to me today it happens about 2 or 3 times a year.
2) Should it happen, and the job was taken by a taxi firm, then that job can be passed onto any licensed firm they choose i.e. not ever a problem.
3) Should it happen, and the job was taken by a PH firm, then that job can be passed onto any licensed taxi firm they choose i.e. not ever really a problem.
4) Should it happen, and that job was taken by a PH firm, then there is nothing stopping the customer ringing any firm they want direct (having been assisted by the PH driver or his firm) and booking them to complete the job. The bill for that can be paid by the driver in cash, or credit card over the phone by the PH firm i.e. not a problem, just a little inconvenient.
However should all the above not address this minute problem, then surely it's not beyond the wit of the Act's Draftsman to add a section allowing a PH firm to pass work to another non-local PH firm in exceptional circumstances.
So please next time someone gives the above reasons to inflict such a major change to our future livelihoods, please feel free to punch them on the hooter, and say it was from me.
