Green MEP condemns poor treatment of vulnerable workers
06 May 2008
Responding to the report 'Hard Work, Hidden Lives', released today by theTUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment, Jean Lambert, Green MEP forLondon, said:
"The finding that more than two million people in Britain are forced toendure 'intolerably poor working lives', while being subjected to dailyexploitation and abuse from employers, is appalling. Employment practiceswhich take advantage of vulnerable workers have been found to becommonplace, despite a raft of regulations to protect people frommistreatment.
"It comes as no surprise that people in certain industries sufferdisproportionately, with those in hotel and catering, hairdressing andbeauty and construction and security being most at risk. People in theseindustries are frequently paid below minimum income for the hours they work,as they are often employed on a casual basis and are less likely to be in atrade union.
"There is a clear need for greater inspection to ensure that workers arebeing given reasonable paid holiday, decent wages and that their work allowsthem to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When unscrupulous employersprovide poorer work conditions they can undercut responsible employers andthis leads to lower standards across industry sectors. This must not go on.
"The legal framework is failing to protect some of those most at risk ofexploitation, including young people, foreign workers and agency workers whohave no other prospects for employment. Anti-poverty targets will beundermined unless the Government gets to grips with this widespreadproblem."
To view a summary or download the TUC report 'Hard Work, Hidden Lives', goto www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk
