Offshoring document alarms PCS

Public service union PCS has reacted angrily to a leaked document on offshoring.

The union, which is currently in dispute with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has seen a management report which states that: "In line with the continuing need for government departments to reduce costs, proposals are being made by service providers to undertake work for or on behalf of the department overseas."

The report spells out that: "This could involve the transfer of part or even all functions of a DWP area of business that would have previously been located in the UK, to a centre located outside of the UK."

PCS is seeking urgent clarification of the issue and general secretary Mark Serwotka commented: "Our great fear about this is in the current frenzy to cut 30,000 jobs from the Department of Work and Pensions, that the government now seems to be embracing not only potential privatisation, but potentially public sector jobs being shipped overseas."