Labour will root out exploitation

Construction union UCATT has welcomed the Labour Party’s commitment that it will introduce measures to crack down on the exploitation of migrant workers in industries such as construction.

Last month, Labour announced that if it comes to power it will establish a special Home Office Enforcement Unit with more than 100 staff to root out illegal exploitation which undercuts wages and conditions for local workers.The new unit will bring together teams from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, specialist police units and Home Office enforcement staff.

It will investigate and increase prosecutions and fines against bad employers and gangmasters who exploit workers to undercut pay and conditions.

Steve Murphy, general secretary of UCATT, said: “This commitment demonstrates that Labour is serious about ending the misery caused by the exploitation of migrant workers and rightly targets the employers who profit through the mistreatment of workers.”

Making the announcement, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “Too often, this is an anything-goes economy.

“It’s exploitation of the worst kind. But it isn’t just bad for those people directly affected, it drives down standards for everybody else, undercutting local workers, and making life harder for responsible employers.”

http://labourlist.org/2015/04/miliband-plans-home-office-enforcement-unit-to-tackle-illegal-exploitation-of-immigrants

www.ucatt.org.uk/ucatt-welcomes-labour%E2%80%99s-commitment-end-worker-exploitation