Member Article

'Rogue employers' under the spotlight

Businesses will be under increasing scrutiny over working conditions after the government launched a scheme to crack down on rogue employers.

As part of the new scheme, a helpline will be introduced for vulnerable workers to report abuses to the government’s workplace enforcement agencies.

A new board will be established to co-ordinate the work of the groups that ensure firms keep to the rules on the treatment of staff including HMRC, the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority (GLA) and the Health and Safety Executive.

An information campaign will then be launched later this year to raise awareness of employment rights issues.

Employment relations minister Pat McFadden said: “We want to prevent unscrupulous employers who undercut honest competition and prey on people who are fearful or so desperate to earn a living that they are open to exploitation.”

Neil Carberry, head of employment at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) welcomed the new scheme: “New laws and regulations do little to tackle unscrupulous firms, who simply ignore the law while they undercut law-abiding businesses. This package of reforms will not increase the burden for honest businesses, but will help protect workers who are being denied their employment rights.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .