Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market: TUC Response to BIS/Home Office consultation

The TUC has 52 trade unions representing more than 5.5 million people who work in a wide variety of sectors and occupations. For the TUC and our affiliates the protection of vulnerable workers is a key priority. In recent years, we have campaigned for improved employment rights for agency and zero hour contract workers and for more effective enforcement of basic rights like the National Minimum Wage. We were also part of the coalition of organisations which called for the establishment of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority following the Morecambe Bay tragedy in 2004.

The TUC welcomes the priority that is being given to the need to tackle labour exploitation. We support improved intelligence sharing and closer working across the enforcement agencies and we welcome new powers to investigate and prosecute the worst cases of exploitation. However, the consultation paper raises a number of concerns which we outline in this paper before answering the questions.

Download the full TUC submission and comments to the consultation: