This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6594577.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Migrant 'underclass' to be probed | Migrant 'underclass' to be probed |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The government is to investigate evidence gathered by the BBC that migrant workers are being trafficked into Britain and exploited. | The government is to investigate evidence gathered by the BBC that migrant workers are being trafficked into Britain and exploited. |
| Employment Protection Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said he took the findings "most seriously". | Employment Protection Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said he took the findings "most seriously". |
| Any firm found to have breached minimum standards of "dignity and respect" would be "taken to task", he said. | Any firm found to have breached minimum standards of "dignity and respect" would be "taken to task", he said. |
| Experts said the workers' treatment was "modern-day slavery", but all companies targeted by the probe deny wrongdoing. | Experts said the workers' treatment was "modern-day slavery", but all companies targeted by the probe deny wrongdoing. |
| Undercover Lithuanian journalist Audrius Lelkaitis, working as part of the BBC News investigation, posed as a migrant worker seeking a job in the UK. | Undercover Lithuanian journalist Audrius Lelkaitis, working as part of the BBC News investigation, posed as a migrant worker seeking a job in the UK. |
| He discovered a new underclass subjected to deception, systematic underpayment and appalling living conditions. | He discovered a new underclass subjected to deception, systematic underpayment and appalling living conditions. |
| Mr Fitzpatrick said the employment agency standards inspectorate and national minimum wage enforcement teams were responsible for ensuring workers were not mistreated. | Mr Fitzpatrick said the employment agency standards inspectorate and national minimum wage enforcement teams were responsible for ensuring workers were not mistreated. |
| This is a kind of forced or bonded labour - this is modern day slavery Det Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell Joining immigrant underclass | This is a kind of forced or bonded labour - this is modern day slavery Det Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell Joining immigrant underclass |
| "If we find there are breaches we will take organisations, employers and others to task," he added. | "If we find there are breaches we will take organisations, employers and others to task," he added. |
| Illegal deductions | Illegal deductions |
| Mr Lelkaitis paid hundreds of pounds to agencies in Lithuania and London in return for the promise of a job in Hull which did not exist. | Mr Lelkaitis paid hundreds of pounds to agencies in Lithuania and London in return for the promise of a job in Hull which did not exist. |
| After being offered work with licensed gangmasters Focus Staff Limited in Hull he was paid below the minimum wage two weeks in arrears. | After being offered work with licensed gangmasters Focus Staff Limited in Hull he was paid below the minimum wage two weeks in arrears. |
| After three weeks, he received £97 for 20 hours' work in his first week, although £50 was deducted for accommodation costs. | After three weeks, he received £97 for 20 hours' work in his first week, although £50 was deducted for accommodation costs. |
| He also had money deducted for accommodation without it being shown on his payslip, which is illegal, and was forced to live in overcrowded accommodation. | He also had money deducted for accommodation without it being shown on his payslip, which is illegal, and was forced to live in overcrowded accommodation. |
| Paul Whitehouse, who chairs the Gangmasters' Licensing Authority, told BBC 2's Newsnight: "It's two hundred years since slavery was abolished. We mustn't allow it to continue now." | Paul Whitehouse, who chairs the Gangmasters' Licensing Authority, told BBC 2's Newsnight: "It's two hundred years since slavery was abolished. We mustn't allow it to continue now." |
| Speaking on the same programme, Jack Dromey - deputy general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union - said the government "needs to go much further" to combat the exploitation of migrant workers. | Speaking on the same programme, Jack Dromey - deputy general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union - said the government "needs to go much further" to combat the exploitation of migrant workers. |
| "We need robustly to enforce the existing law....so that we see gangmasters - rogue gangmasters - go to jail," he said. | "We need robustly to enforce the existing law....so that we see gangmasters - rogue gangmasters - go to jail," he said. |
| Mike Dickenson, director of Focus Staff Ltd, denies any wrongdoing | Mike Dickenson, director of Focus Staff Ltd, denies any wrongdoing |
| Mike Dickenson, director of Focus Staff Limited, denied any illegal practices. | Mike Dickenson, director of Focus Staff Limited, denied any illegal practices. |
| "I don't underpay my workers," he said. "Everything I do is legal and above board," he said. | "I don't underpay my workers," he said. "Everything I do is legal and above board," he said. |
| 'Bonded labour' | 'Bonded labour' |
| Deputy Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell, programme director of the UK Human Trafficking Centre, said the opening of Europe's borders had brought with it a new kind of people trafficking. | Deputy Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell, programme director of the UK Human Trafficking Centre, said the opening of Europe's borders had brought with it a new kind of people trafficking. |
| He said: "This quite clearly is labour exploitation. Certain elements are there; there's a deception and there's a movement of people with an expectation of being paid a reasonable and appropriate wage. | He said: "This quite clearly is labour exploitation. Certain elements are there; there's a deception and there's a movement of people with an expectation of being paid a reasonable and appropriate wage. |
| "This is a kind of forced or bonded labour. This is modern day slavery." | "This is a kind of forced or bonded labour. This is modern day slavery." |
| Aidan McQuade, director of campaign group Anti-Slavery International, said trafficking to exploit labour involved a number of factors. | Aidan McQuade, director of campaign group Anti-Slavery International, said trafficking to exploit labour involved a number of factors. |
| These included the use of deception, intimidation, the removal of documents, excessive charges for accommodation and transport, the exploitation of someone's irregular immigration status or the fact they are in debt, in order to force them to work in conditions they do not agree to, he said. | These included the use of deception, intimidation, the removal of documents, excessive charges for accommodation and transport, the exploitation of someone's irregular immigration status or the fact they are in debt, in order to force them to work in conditions they do not agree to, he said. |
| He added: "Some of these mechanisms are reported in this BBC News investigation." | He added: "Some of these mechanisms are reported in this BBC News investigation." |