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05 August 2008
The government's decision to tackle the issue of rogue employers without introducing new laws has been welcomed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Among the new initiatives proposed by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is a new single telephone helpline for vulnerable workers to contact various enforcement agencies.
It also announced that it plans to launch a £6 million information campaign to raise awareness of the issue.
Welcoming this focus on "tackling non-compliance", Neil Carberry, head of employment at the CBI, said the UK has a "strong framework of employment rights" and when employers choose to flout these laws workers are "open to exploitation".
"New laws and regulations do little to tackle unscrupulous firms, who simply ignore the law while they undercut law-abiding businesses," Mr Carberry stated.
The new reforms will not be an additional "burden" for businesses, but will provide protection for those "denied their employment rights", he added.
Collaboration between the UK's enforcement bodies, such as HM Revenue and Customs, the Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and the Health and Safety Executive, is expected to be boosted by the creation of a Fair Employment Enforcement Board.
