Public Servant Lifestyle

Stamp out abuses at work - "give us the evidence and we will act", Minister says.

Employment Relations Minister Jim Fitzpatrick called on unions, businesses and workers to pass on evidence of abuse of vulnerable workers to a joint enforcement body meeting for the first time.

The Vulnerable Worker Enforcement Forum has been set up by Alistair Darling to crack down on abuses of workplace rights. It will consider whether abuses are tackled effectively through existing enforcement and support mechanisms or whether improvements to existing mechanisms, or new approaches, are needed to raise compliance without increasing burdens for good employers. It will have a dedicated email address to collect evidence: Vulnerable.workers@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Evidence gathered by the enforcement bodies suggests that hotels and restaurants are the highest risk sectors, followed by healthcare, retail and construction.

Jim Fitzpatrick said: "Over the last ten years we have brought in a series of rights to improve conditions for all workers but especially the most vulnerable workers. While most workers have benefited from initiatives like the National Minimum wage, rights for part time workers, statutory holidays and better health and safety there are still some who are not getting the protection they should.

"Shocking abuses still go on in a minority of workplaces. They are unacceptable and must be stopped. The Forum will be looking at all evidence of where rogue employers are ignoring UK law and mistreating their workers.

"I want anyone with evidence to send it to us. We will consider it alongside the evidence from unions and employers and the experiences of our front line enforcement agencies."

Jim Fitzpatrick will chair the Forum. Members include:

More information available in Work Life Balance