Friday 5 August 2011

New microsite will help vulnerable workers secure a fair deal at work


Frances O'Grady,TUC Deputy General Secretary
The TUC is launching a new microsite today (Friday) to help people find out more about their basic rights at work.
Basic Rights @ Work will introduce vulnerable workers - people who have little knowledge of their employment rights, who find it hard to access advice and who do not have the ability to protect themselves against abuses of their rights - to information about employment rights in the UK and how to enforce these rights through statutory enforcement bodies.
The site, put together by the TUC's Union Modernisation Fund (UMF), has details of the employment rights that apply to different categories of workers, information about basic rights - from the National Minimum Wage, to working time and annual leave entitlements - and advice on how to enforce your rights at work.
The microsite contains five videos created by the TUC and enforcement bodies which explain how the different agencies operate. They reveal the role and purpose of the Pay and Work Rights helpline, the HM Revenue and Customs National Minimum Wage enforcement team, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, the Employment Agencies Standard Inspectorate and the Health and Safety Executive.
The short videos are designed to inform workers and their union reps about the basic workplace rights that are enforced by each agency and the powers the enforcement officers have to carry out their investigations. The videos also outline the sanctions that can be imposed on employers.
TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Thousands of people around the UK are exploited at work every day because the law is not strong enough to prevent mistreatment and rogue bosses use gaps in employment protection to treat their staff badly.
"Vulnerable workers - especially in low-paid sectors, such as care, cleaning, hospitality, security and construction - can find themselves working excessively long hours, sometimes with no contract of employment. Their work can be insecure and they are regularly paid below the minimum wage.
"Unions have a proven track record in stopping unscrupulous employers from exploiting vulnerable workers. This website will be a vital tool to help workers and their union reps secure a fair deal at work."

For information
- Basic Rights @ Work is available at www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-19833-f0.cfm

- The UMF aims to: provide tailored support to unions seeking to improve engagement with vulnerable workers via training and better information-sharing; develop new skills in promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable workers and integrating their needs into negotiations with employers; develop new resources for unions (specifically regarding informal, agency, younger and casual workers); encourage closer working between unions and enforcement agencies; and pilot new ways of supporting unions in the regions. For more information please visit: www.tuc.org.uk/union/tuc-17545-f0.cfm


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