|
date: 7 May 2004 embargo: 00.01hrs Monday 10 May 2004 |
Attention: industrial, political, social affairs correspondents
Government must enforce rights for hidden workers say Oxfam, TUC and NGH
The UK Government must implement international labour standards, if the exploitation of Britain’s one million homeworkers is to be halted. That is the finding of a new report - ‘Made at home’ - published today (Monday) by Oxfam, the TUC and NGH (the National Group on Homeworking).
No minimum wage, no sick pay, no maternity leave, no redundancy pay, forced overtime and no health and safety checks. This is the story of female workers around the world who produce goods that are sold in Britain. However, as the new report highlights, it is also the experience of many British homeworkers who assemble Christmas crackers and sew buttons on clothes that are supplied to UK supermarkets and retailers.
Oxfam, the TUC and NGH are calling on the Government to extend all employment rights to homeworkers and agency and casual workers under the current Employment Status Review. The organisations would like to see the Government implement the International Convention on Homework, the international labour standard set down by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The three are also calling on retailers to ensure that workers’ rights are upheld throughout their supply chains - in the UK as well as internationally.
Commenting on the joint report, Phil Bloomer, Head of Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign said: 'Our research uncovers the double standards of retailers who claim they want to uphold the rights of workers in their supply chain, while at the same time make it impossible for their suppliers to do so by demanding cheaper products at the expense of workers’ rights.
'Retailers and other employers get away with it because homeworkers are not entitled to the same labour rights that other workers have. Ensuring the minimum wage is paid is also key. At present homeworkers are entitled to £4.50 an hour, but seldom receive it, some getting as little as 73p per hour. The Government needs to take stronger measures to enforce payment.'
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The main problem is that homeworkers are often isolated, without the support of workmates or a union to speak up for them. Many are not ‘employees’ and so lack even the most basic employment rights including protection against unfair dismissal and maternity leave. Legally all homeworkers should be getting the minimum wage and holiday pay, but the reality is that many employers prey upon and exploit their vulnerable position for their own ends.
'The situation is made worse because the law covering homeworkers is unclear. If they complain, it’s likely that their supply of work will stop without notice, so many homeworkers stay silent and abuses go unreported. Homeworkers should get the same employment rights as all other employees - their status as third class workers cannot be allowed to continue.'
Linda Devereux , from the National Group on Homeworking (NGH) said: 'Homeworking is a convenient way of working for many people, especially if they have caring responsibilities.
'However the fact that these workers need these jobs to sustain a livelihood is not a license to exploit them. They work just as hard and as productively as their counterparts in factories - yet at present have fewer rights and get a poorer deal - that must change.'
Retailers are being asked to work to together as members of the Ethical Trading Initiative to take a series of actions to improve the rights and working conditions of homeworkers.
Oxfam, the TUC & NGH are calling on the UK Government to:
- Respond to the Employment Status consultation and act to extend all employment rights to homeworkers and other excluded groups as soon as possible
- Implement ILO standards for homeworkers’ labour rights to ensure they are entitled to the same rights as other workers
- Strengthen enforcement of the National Minimum Wage by increasing the penalties for non-payment.
They are calling on retailers to:
- Make labour standards a key sourcing criteria
- Negotiate fair prices which take account of the cost of fair labour standards
- Make a commitment to maintain orders to suppliers who agree to improve labour standards
- Set adequate delivery times and improve advance planning of orders to reduce the need for excessive working hours
- Make respect for workers integral to company vision and practice
Notes to Editors:
The report will be officially launched today (Monday) at a conference organised by the TUC, Oxfam and NGH at the TUC National Education Centre at 77 Crouch End Hill, London. To view a map of the conference location click on this link http://www.multimap.com/p/browse.cgi?pc=N88DG
Conference speakers include Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary; Phil Bloomer, Head of Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair Campaign; Linda Devereux, Director of the National Group on Homeworking and the Paymaster General, The Rt. Hon. Dawn Primarolo MP.
The National Group on Homeworking is a non-governmental membership organisation which campaigns for improved employment rights and conditions for UK homeworkers. http://www.homeworking.gn.apc.org
Following the conference the TUC, Oxfam and NGH will be supporting a week of regional roadshows from May 10-14, promoting the NGH's 'Homeworkers Hotline' - 0800 174 095. The regional roadshows will visit towns and cities across the UK including Leicester, Nottingham, Leeds, Rochdale, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Bristol. Supporting unions include KFAT, ISTC and the GPMU.
A list of members of the Ethical Trading Initiative is available on request. Alternatively check www.ethicaltrade.org
To find out more about Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign, which the UK homeworking campaign is part of, log onto www.maketradefair.com
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access
pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email media@tuc.org.uk/ Malcolm Fleming on 0771 891 8346 or 0141 285 8855.
Press release (1,000 words) issued 10 May 2004
