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date: 5 June 2007

embargo: Immediate release

Last chance to phone TUC actionline

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last chance for workers around the UK to call the TUC's freephone 'Exploitation' actionline on 0800 072 0010 to report their stories of workplace exploitation.

The helpline was launched last week (31 May) as part of the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment, which will investigate the extent of workplace exploitation and consider improvements to the enforcement regime and legal protection available for vulnerable staff.

So far callers to the helpline have reported non-payment of wages, minimum wage abuses, long working hours and unfair dismissal.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The TUC's Commission launched last week, but we're already hearing - through the helpline, the website and meeting workers in person - that exploitation in the workplace is a sad reality for too many workers across Britain. We've heard about workers being paid well below the minimum wage or not being paid at all, workers not being allowed to take breaks and workers on temporary contracts being denied the same rights as their colleagues on permanent contracts.

'The job of our Commission is to help exploited workers speak out so we can work out what government, employers and unions should be doing to protect them. I would urge workers to take this chance to fight back against rogue employers, and come forward and tell us their stories.'

After the helpline closes tomorrow workers can continue to report their experiences to the Commission by post or via the website ( www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk ). All submissions will be fed into the Commission's evidence, which will enable it to make recommendations to government to ensure all workers are treated fairly.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Exploited workers can write to the Commission at: The Commission on Vulnerable Employment, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.

- In a report prepared for the Commission www.tuc.org.uk/extras/covebriefing.pdf the TUC says up to one in five of the workforce may be considered vulnerable workers. They include agency workers, temporary workers, domestic workers, home workers and migrant workers. Examples of exploitation include low pay, including illegal and unfair deductions from the minimum wage; unsafe workplaces; limited rights to leave; lack of control over working time and lack of security.

- 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: Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337; M: 07900 910624;
E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

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

Press release (500 words) issued 5 Jun 2007