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Labour MP Jim Sheridan makes the case for his Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill.
Coming into politics from a trade union background, I have always worked towards ensuring workers are protected from exploitation. The passing of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Bill, which I introduced as a private members' bill, into law will remain one of the proudest moments of my political career.
The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act has now been successfully protecting workers in the agricultural sector from rogue employers for five years, but evidence is now emerging that these unscrupulous employers are moving into the construction industry.
I find this alarming for a number of reasons, the most obvious of which is that workers and in particular migrant workers are still facing exploitation by employers with little or no concern for their welfare.
By employing migrant labour with limited knowledge of the English language to work in the construction industry, these gangmasters are playing a dangerous game with people's safety.
Being unable to read safety notices and instructions on how to use specialised equipment is leading to increased work place injuries. 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 overrides considerations of any duty of care to their employees.
The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act has proven effective in tackling gangmasters in the agricultural sector and I believe that we cannot leave any industry for these people to operate in, where they get rich through the mistreatment of others.
These rogue employers undermine the good, law-abiding, tax-paying employers and tarnish all business operating in the construction industry.
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