date: 14 August 2007

embargo: immediate

TUC comment on Baltic Work Team Ltd

TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'This is a shocking case of abuse. The GLA were right to take this swift action.

'This case brings home the loophole that allows rogue agencies to work in sectors other than the few covered by the GLA without any supervision or licensing. This company claims to provide labour to the construction sector as well, and the Health and Safety Executive and HMRC should now investigate whether they are breaching employment laws in other sectors.

'But the only long term solution is for the government to close this loophole and get tough with rogue agencies in whatever sector they work, and give agency workers new rights against the exploitation that is all too common in the sector.'

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Press release (200 words) issued 14 Aug 2007