Self regulation will lead to exploitation warns UCATT

Under the Government’s proposals included in a consultation by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Employment Agencies Act and the existing regulations covering employment agencies would be scrapped. The Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate (EASI) which is responsible for regulating agencies in the non-licensed sector would be closed. The consultation proposes that employment agencies would no longer be regulated for record keeping, advertising vacancies and on suitability and identity checks. The agencies would no longer be required to obtain health and safety information from companies hiring workers and they would no longer be required to tell workers about health and safety risks. Rules covering what additional services agencies can and can’t charge for would also be scrapped. UCATT is warning that workers could find large deductions being made from their pay for such services as CV checking, training, accommodation and travel. The level of non-compliance in the construction sector was demonstrated by a targeted inspection exercise undertaken by EASI between 2010 and 2012. EASI inspected 59 employment agencies operating in construction, of which 54 (92 per cent) were found not to be complying with regulations and were issued with warnings. Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “Construction workers are all too frequently exploited by employment agencies, with unpaid wages and excessive charges common. Rather than try to improve the situation the Government is proposing to scrap the few regulations that exist, exposing workers to greater exploitation and further misery.” “Rather than scrapping legislation the Government should be extending the Gangmasters Licencing Act to cover other areas such as construction where unscrupulous agencies operate. Those agencies that play by the rules and treat their workers with dignity and respect have nothing to fear from licensing.”

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