16 June 2009
Sasha Wood

MP Jim Sheridan has introduced a Bill to parliament that would extend the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 to the construction industry.

The Act, which created a Gangmasters Licensing Authority, passed into law five years ago but only covers agriculture and related industries.

Sheridan, the Labour MP who originally presented the Act to the Commons, said there is evidence that unscrupulous gangmasters are now exploiting workers in the construction industry and are supplying big construction companies with unskilled labour for skilled and dangerous work.

"We don't need a Morecombe Bay type tragedy in the construction of the Olympic villages," said Sheridan.

"Safety needs to be paramount in an industry where work-related deaths are already at an unacceptable level, and yet available evidence indicates that gangmasters pay no real attention to the safety of their workers. Profits seem to override considerations of any duty of care to their employees."

Sheridan said trade unions, the Federation of Small Businesses, and the Federation of Master Builders have asked for help to tackle the problem.

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill gained its first reading under a 10-minute-rule motion on 10 June 2009.

To read an article on keeping migrant workers in the safety advice loop, click here.

Categories:
Construction, News



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