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Labour plans crackdown on employers exploiting migrants Labour plans crackdown on employers exploiting migrants
(7 months later)
Labour is to pledge this week that it will make it illegal for employers to cram migrants into mobile homes to cut accommodation costs and undercut domestic workers.Labour is to pledge this week that it will make it illegal for employers to cram migrants into mobile homes to cut accommodation costs and undercut domestic workers.
The party will also promise to oversee much tougher enforcement of the national minimum wage – including prosecutions and the doubling of fines – and to extend action against gangmasters employing illegal migrants to the social care, hospitality and construction industries.The party will also promise to oversee much tougher enforcement of the national minimum wage – including prosecutions and the doubling of fines – and to extend action against gangmasters employing illegal migrants to the social care, hospitality and construction industries.
The specific measures will form an important part of a new approach to immigration to be set out on Thursday in a speech by the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and a party political broadcast by Ed Miliband.The specific measures will form an important part of a new approach to immigration to be set out on Thursday in a speech by the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and a party political broadcast by Ed Miliband.
The detailed proposals are "designed to create a fair framework that benefits domestic workers, prevents exploitation of foreign labour and reduces the demand for it". The opposition's new approach is also expected to detail further reforms of the immigration system and action to tackle the factors that attract low-skilled migrants to Britain. Further announcements are to be made on policies to improve the training and skills of domestic workers so they, rather than migrants, can fill jobs in shortage occupations.The detailed proposals are "designed to create a fair framework that benefits domestic workers, prevents exploitation of foreign labour and reduces the demand for it". The opposition's new approach is also expected to detail further reforms of the immigration system and action to tackle the factors that attract low-skilled migrants to Britain. Further announcements are to be made on policies to improve the training and skills of domestic workers so they, rather than migrants, can fill jobs in shortage occupations.
Cooper will argue that the biggest single factor likely to attract low-skilled Romanian and Bulgarian migrants to Britain from next January is the prospect of work. She will claim that the party's "long-thought-out" attempt to tackle the factors that lead to low-skilled migrant labour undercutting domestic workers is in stark contrast to the "panic and kite-flying" by ministers who have long known that the transitional controls preventing Romanians and Bulgarians taking up work in Britain will end this December.Cooper will argue that the biggest single factor likely to attract low-skilled Romanian and Bulgarian migrants to Britain from next January is the prospect of work. She will claim that the party's "long-thought-out" attempt to tackle the factors that lead to low-skilled migrant labour undercutting domestic workers is in stark contrast to the "panic and kite-flying" by ministers who have long known that the transitional controls preventing Romanians and Bulgarians taking up work in Britain will end this December.
"There must be a level playing field so domestic workers are not disadvantaged and employers shouldn't be allowed to use migration in the wrong way," said a Labour source."There must be a level playing field so domestic workers are not disadvantaged and employers shouldn't be allowed to use migration in the wrong way," said a Labour source.
The party says it would make it illegal for employers to provide unsuitable and unreasonable accommodation, including cramming migrants into small units, by making it explicit in the national minimum wage regulations.The party says it would make it illegal for employers to provide unsuitable and unreasonable accommodation, including cramming migrants into small units, by making it explicit in the national minimum wage regulations.
This would mean that employers who provide accommodation, and charge for it as an offset of the minimum wage, would not be allowed to game the system through overcrowding or providing unsuitable conditions.This would mean that employers who provide accommodation, and charge for it as an offset of the minimum wage, would not be allowed to game the system through overcrowding or providing unsuitable conditions.
The experience of many migrant workers in Britain was highlighted in a popular novel, Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka, in 2008. Unions have highlighted cases of Polish workers sleeping in barns, and migrants on the minimum wage being placed in accommodation not fit for human habitation to cut costs.The experience of many migrant workers in Britain was highlighted in a popular novel, Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka, in 2008. Unions have highlighted cases of Polish workers sleeping in barns, and migrants on the minimum wage being placed in accommodation not fit for human habitation to cut costs.
The party also wants to see tougher enforcement of minimum wage legislation by using the police rather than HMRC in sectors such as social care where as many as 13% of staff are paid below the minimum wage. There has not been a single prosecution in the last two years in this area.The party also wants to see tougher enforcement of minimum wage legislation by using the police rather than HMRC in sectors such as social care where as many as 13% of staff are paid below the minimum wage. There has not been a single prosecution in the last two years in this area.
"Labour would begin a crackdown of sectors where abuse is rife, including enforcement from HMRC and also by the police and local authorities," said a Labour source. "We would also immediately double the fine for not paying the national minimum wage.""Labour would begin a crackdown of sectors where abuse is rife, including enforcement from HMRC and also by the police and local authorities," said a Labour source. "We would also immediately double the fine for not paying the national minimum wage."
Cooper and Miliband will also pledge to extend the gangmasters legislation that tackles the employment of illegal migrants by extending it to other sectors including care, construction and hospitality. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority last month took out a prosecution against 15 dairy farmers who had used a gangmaster employing illegal migrants, but all were given unconditional discharges and fined just £300 – less than they saved by employing one illegal migrant for a month. The legislation will also be reviewed to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.Cooper and Miliband will also pledge to extend the gangmasters legislation that tackles the employment of illegal migrants by extending it to other sectors including care, construction and hospitality. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority last month took out a prosecution against 15 dairy farmers who had used a gangmaster employing illegal migrants, but all were given unconditional discharges and fined just £300 – less than they saved by employing one illegal migrant for a month. The legislation will also be reviewed to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.
The party has already promised to ban recruitment agencies who operate exclusively by bringing in foreign workers to Britain without trying to fill the vacancies locally.The party has already promised to ban recruitment agencies who operate exclusively by bringing in foreign workers to Britain without trying to fill the vacancies locally.
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