CLERGYMEN could gain new employment rights as a result of a review launched by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

Traditionally, the courts have regarded the relationship between church authorities and ministers of religion as having no contractual basis because ministers owe their allegiance to God rather than any earthly authority.

This has meant that ministers, not only in the Church of England but other religions too, have been unable to seek legal redress in the event of any dispute over their treatment by church authorities.

But a discussion paper on employment status raised the possibility of extending the range of workers entitled to rights, such as the right not to be unfairly dismissed, to parental leave, redundancy payments and time off for family emergencies.

The paper said that most employment rights apply to employees, rather than the self-employed. But it noted that some workers including some clergy, agency workers and casual workers fall into neither category.