Migrant workers' health and safety

The TUC has published a new guide offering unions advice on protecting the health and safety of migrant workers.

Safety and migrant workers: a guide for safety representatives sets out the risks - including long hours, lack of personal protective equipment and little safety training - faced by many migrant workers, especially those with little English. It points out that health and safety law applies to all workers, regardless of their employment status, and makes the case for bilingual safety reps and/or union officers.

Also included are examples of successful organisation of migrant workers on safety issues, by general unions the GMB and the T&G (now part of Unite) and retail union Usdaw.

The guide is available at www.tuc.org.uk