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/business/7541696.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Clampdown plan on rogue employers Clampdown move on rogue employers
(20 minutes later)
The government is launching a helpline to report the mistreatment of workers and illegal pay rates as it clamps down on rogue employers. A helpline to report the mistreatment of workers and illegal pay rates is being launched by the government to clamp down on rogue employers.
Employment relations minister Pat McFadden said there were "dark corners" of the labour market where workers were being exploited.
A new board will coordinate the work of the groups which check that firms kept to the rules on treatment of staff.A new board will coordinate the work of the groups which check that firms kept to the rules on treatment of staff.
Unions welcomed the move but said some "gaps" still needed to be dealt with. Unions welcomed the move but said an opportunity to expand the Gangmasters' Licensing Authority had been missed.
Campaign They had wanted its remit to be extended to care workers, and the construction and hospitality sectors.
Safeguard rights
An information campaign will be launched later to raise awareness of employment rights and how to enforce them.An information campaign will be launched later to raise awareness of employment rights and how to enforce them.
And a new Fair Employment Enforcement Board, including trade union and business figures, will oversee the work of enforcement groups checking minimum wage payments, health and safety, employment agencies and gangmasters.And a new Fair Employment Enforcement Board, including trade union and business figures, will oversee the work of enforcement groups checking minimum wage payments, health and safety, employment agencies and gangmasters.
"There are still dark corners of the labour market where rogue employers seek to mistreat their workers and more needs to be done to safeguard people's rights," the minister said. Employment relations minister Pat McFadden said: "Compared to a decade ago there are three million more people in work in Britain and they all enjoy more employment rights than they would have in the past.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the government should have taken the chance to extend the scope of the Gangmasters' Licensing Authority (GLA) to the construction, care and hospitality sectors. "Important minimum standards on wages, paid leave, maternity leave and conditions have been put in place.
The GLA, set up in 2005 to protect low-paid workers, covers industries such as fruit picking and food processing and oversees treatment of about 500,000 workers. "However, there are still dark corners of the labour market where rogue employers seek to mistreat their workers and more needs to be done to safeguard people's rights."
'Baffling decision'
Under the Gangmasters Licensing Act, everyone who supplies workers to the agricultural and food-processing industries must hold a licence.
The GLA, set up in 2005 to protect low-paid workers, oversees treatment of about 500,000 workers.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the government should have taken the chance to widen the scope of the GLA to new sectors.
And the UCATT construction union said it was baffled by the decision not to extend its remit saying there is endemic abuse of vulnerable workers in the industry.
A government spokesman said the committee advising ministers could not agree about extending the role of the GLA.