date: Friday 13 September 2002 embargo: immediate release

Attention: industrial, economic and political correspondents

one page

TUC welcomes Government’s £10m crackdown on scrooge bosses

In response to the Government’s figures on National Minimum Wage enforcement release today, TUC General Secretary, John Monks said:

'The recovery of £10million in illegally withheld wages is great news for fairness at work.

'More could be achieved with a even more proactive enforcement regime and less reliance on vulnerable workers reporting their bad bosses.

'Working in partnership with the Government, we want to stop scrooge bosses and put an end to exploitation. There is no room in the modern British economy for employers who flout the law in the name of cost cutting and profiteering."

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

A series of TUC rights leaflets, including information on claiming the national minimum wage, are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Anyone who thinks they are not being paid the minimum wage should call the Government’s helpline on 0845 6000 678, or use the interactive website - www.tiger.gov.uk - which provides employees and employers with guidance.

The National Minimum Wage Annual Report 2001/2002 is available on the DTI website at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw

Contacts:

Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or email media@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Paul Sellers 020 7467 1302 or email psellers@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 13 Sep 2002