date: 23 May 2007

embargo: none

TUC comment on Pratts Bananas factory

Commenting on the BBC's exposure of working conditions in Pratts

Bananas factory in Luton, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This is a shocking indictment of working conditions in Britain today,

not at a fly-by-night small business but a major supplier to

supermarkets throughout the country.

'This exposes the dark underbelly of the UK's much vaunted labour

market flexibility. There is clear exploitation of loopholes in

employment rights. And employers and agencies know that they can get

away with ignoring and stretching rules as there is precious little

effort to enforce many basic rights.

'And once again a major exposure of exploitation at work has

discovered an employment agency at its heart. The government was right

to crack down on gangmasters, but abuse covers many more sectors than

the limited targets of the gangmaster rules. The government's current

review of agency rules must conclude that all agencies should be

licensed and that agency workers should be given proper protection so

that employers no longer have an incentive to use agencies to get

round workers' rights.'

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Contacts:

Media enquiries: Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337; M: 07881 622416;
E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 23 May 2007