The British government has unveiled a new watchdog to protect the rights of workers to tackle what it refers to as "modern slavery" and call out businesses who do not afford their staff many rights protected under the law.
Ministers claim the new watchdog will protect the best interest of workers. Credit: Ajit Wick via Shutterstock
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) revealed on Tuesday that the body is designed to simplify the process by which workers can identify their rights within their workplaces and what actions they may or may not be able to take against employers who do not protect these rights.
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It sees the merger of three different bodies all brought under one roof that oversees the enforcement of the national minimum wage, offers statutory sick pay and the protection of agency staff among other key topics to address concerns the UK is not doing enough to protect the rights of its working class.
Officials also claim the body will act as a ward against "unscrupulous" business tactics to ensure businesses do not use illegal methods - underpaying and overworking staff, for example - to gain a market advantage.
It also hopes to eliminate the bureaucratic approach to statutory sick pay to ensure vulnerable workers gain the necessary time off without having to resort to lengthy tribunal cases.
Business secretary Paul Scully said the government will do "whatever's necessary" to protect workers' rights.
"The vast majority of businesses want to do right by their staff, but there [is] a minority who seem to think the law doesn’t apply to them. Exploitative practices like modern slavery have no place in society," he said.
He added the new watchdog will allow the government to crack down on "any abuses of workers’ rights and take action against companies that turn a blind eye to abuses in their supply chains."
"We will take action against big brands that turn a blind eye to abuses," he concluded.
However, details about the watchdog remain unconfirmed, including whether it will receive extra funding to allow it to enforce the law adequately or any timeframe for its ratification.
There is also no guarantee it will be any more effective than the existing systems.
It will see the mergers of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Enforcement combined into a single authority.
The BEIS confirmed the body will also continue the naming and shaming scheme which looks out for rogue employers and hits them with heavy fines, sometimes up to £20,000 (€23,225) per worker as well as protecting the pay of workers employed through agencies or gangmasters.
The government have also announced it will attempt to tackle abuses within the garments sector, following allegations of slavery and use of sweatshops along its supply chains or extending the licencing scheme that currently covers employers in the agricultural sector.
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Under the new ruling, MPs are also proposing harsher measures for businesses that repeatedly refuse to follow the laws regarding workers' rights, including bans on goods made in factories where workers have been mistreated.
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