News archive
Employment advisers need more resources to deal with cases of mistreatment at work
Posted
26th August 2008
Hard pressed employment advisers are struggling to meet the needs of the UK's most vulnerable workers, a new TUC report has concluded. Employment advisers receive daily reports of mistreatment from workers across low paid and female dominated sectors of the economy, but often feel they do not have the necessary resources to challenge this exploitation.
Researchers from the Centre for Employment Studies Research at Bristol Business School, commissioned by the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment, interviewed employment advisers from Citizens Advice and the Law Centres Federation across the UK.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'The TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment was shocked at the extent of abuses of employment rights reported by colleagues at Citizens Advice and the Law Centres. It is unacceptable that these practices exist today, and equally unfair that when they do, services to help vulnerable workers are left over-stretched and under-funded.
Related link:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/newsroom/tuc-15213-f0.cfm
Radio 4 highlights homeworking
Posted
18th August 2008
Radio 4 current affairs programme iPM turned the spot-light on homeworking this week. The programme investigated homeworkers’ wages and found a great many homeworkers producing items for sale in major high-street chains are earning less than the national minimum wage.
NGH took part in the programme and you can hear what we had to say, as well as adding your own comments to the iPM blog by visiting the programme's website. The programme will be available until Saturday 23rd August.
Related link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/
Women migrant workers most likely to be underpaid
Posted
11th August 2008
New research published by the TUC reveals that female migrant workers are the most likely to be paid less than the national minimum wage.
The research demonstrates that recent migrant workers are more than twice as likely as other workers to be earning less than the appropriate NMW for their age. Women who are recent migrants to the UK are 1.5 times more likely than male migrant workers to be paid less than the NMW. Women who migrate to work in the UK therefore face a disproportionate risk of being illegally underpaid - with around 35,000 denied the NMW.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The rogue employers who underpay the NMW deserve zero tolerance. The NMW is making a real difference to the lives of many low paid migrant workers, and we must continue to crack down on those mean bosses not paying their staff the legal wage to which they are entitled.'
Related link:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/newsroom/tuc-15182-f0.cfm
Government announces crack down on rogue employers
Posted
5th August 2008
A new Government drive to crack down on rogue employers who abuse vulnerable workers and undercut honest businesses was unveiled today.
The strategy includes a single telephone helpline for vulnerable workers to report abuses to the Government's workplace enforcement agencies, breaking down barriers so agencies can share vital information to catch rogue employers and a £6 million information campaign to raise awareness of employment rights and how to enforce them.
Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden said:
"We want to prevent unscrupulous employers who undercut honest competition and prey on people who are fearful or so desperate to earn a living that they are open to exploitation."
The TUC has welcomed many of the recommendations, including the introduction of a single phoneline to report abuses, and the planned employment rights awareness-raising campaign. The TUC has, however expressed disappointment that the government is once again refusing to revise the law on employment status, which denies many workers employee rights and protection against unfair dismissal.
Related link:
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/164250
Happy Birthday National Minimum Wage!
Posted
31st July 2008
Today is the 10th anniversary of national minimum wage legislation, although the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 did not actually come into effect until April 1999.
The national minimum wage was a huge step forward for low paid workers, as it established in law minimum pay rates that employers cannot pay below. As most low paid workers are female, it has particularly benefited women workers.
Homeworkers are specifically mentioned in the National Minimum Wage Act, and are legally entitled to the minimum wage, but many continue to be underpaid by their employers. The National Group on Homeworking works hard to ensure homeworkers actually receive the national minimum wage, so if you’re a homeworker and earning less than the national minimum (currently £5.52 per hour for those over 21 years of age) then get in touch and we will try to help you.
Related link:
http://www.ngh.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/national-minimum-wage
Uncertain Status - TUC steps up its campaign for employment rights
Posted
24th July 2008
On Wednesday the National Group on Homeworking was invited to address a TUC seminar dedicated to the problems of uncertain employment status and access to employment rights. Uncertain employment status is a huge problem for homeworkers, who are frequently denied employment rights, and the National Group on Homeworking is dedicated to working closely with unions and other organisations campaigning for a change in the law.
The seminar was chaired by Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the NUJ, and key speakers included Sandra Fredman from Oxford University, Nicola Smith from the Commission on Vulnerable Employment, Nesta Holden from NGH and Liz Blackshaw Director of the TUC Organising Academy.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said,
'Too many workers are falling through gaps in employment law which mean they do not enjoy the same rights at work as their colleagues... It is vital unions adopt a united approach to the issues around employment status, and keep playing our part in ending exploitation at work.'
Related link:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-15114-f0.cfm