[IER] New figures show Tory cuts leave workers vulnerable to exploitation

Fri Aug 19 16:47:14 BST 2016

IER News Brief 19/08/16

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news brief

Friday 19th August 2016

  <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/42bef9e9-0080-4d3d-9334-2e260fdb3b8d.gif> 

New figures released this week <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/workers-more-vulnerable-after-tory-cuts-employment-agency-watchdog>  show how Tory cuts have made workers even more vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

The statistics, raised in parliamentary questions and reported by the Morning Star, show that funding to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has been cutting by a massive 50% since 2010, even as complaints to the watchdog rose by 21%. With the Inspectorate's staff now cut to only two people, it has failed to make a single arrest this year.

Underlining how serious the cuts are is news this week that Sports Direct has been under fire in two court cases <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/agency-staff-new-mothers-and-tupe-workers-claim-exploitation-sports-direct> . The company has been ordered to pay around £1 million in compensation to workers - most of whom were hired through employment agencies - who were paid less than minimum wage. Elsewhere, the company has been accused of exploiting new mothers as well as workers transferred from a previous employer, as it forced them on to zero-hours contracts from the guaranteed hours contracts they previously held. 

Responding to both news stories, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "That is why Labour has launched Workplace 2020, an inclusive discussion with working people and employers on what the world of work should look like in 2020...it is clear the Tories are unable to stand up for working people."

The IER's Manifesto for Labour Law <http://www.ier.org.uk/manifesto>  was drafted as a submission to the Workplace 2020 initiative, calling for a restructuring of labour law to move power back into the hands of workers to negotiate wages and conditions collectively though sectoral and enterprise agreements. By allowing for workers to organise more effectively, we can address the imbalance of power between employers and workers and thereby reduce the opportunities for exploitation of the most vulnerable in the workforce.

The Manifesto has already been backed by Labour leaders and the UK's major unions. Read more and help support our vision <http://www.ier.org.uk/manifesto> .

Subscribers receive all of our publications free and discount rates on our conferences.  <http://www.ier.org.uk/subscribe> Subscribe now

 News and comment

 Workers' Rights <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/b1c726de-bf3c-454c-9dd0-50d42672c9ff.png> 

	Workers more vulnerable after Tory cuts to employment agency watchdog
The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has failed to make a single arrest since its funding was cut by 50% by the Tories.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/workers-more-vulnerable-after-tory-cuts-employment-agency-watchdog> > click here to read full story

 Zero-hour contracts <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/a9d92fb1-5a31-442b-bae4-c11fdbf2d392.jpg> 

	Agency staff, new mothers and TUPE workers claim exploitation at Sports Direct
New reports on Sports Direct have shown how the retailer is exploiting some of its most vulnerable workers.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/agency-staff-new-mothers-and-tupe-workers-claim-exploitation-sports-direct> > click here to read full story

 Don Flynn <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/29c49b5d-64f7-4098-a8e0-d20629fb71bd.jpg> 

	COMMENT: Byron Hamburgers: When employers fail to do right by migrant employees
Don Flynn, Director of the Migrants' Rights Network, explains why Byron's Hamburgers should not be seen as blameless in the arrest of 35 of its migrant workers last month.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/byron-hamburgers-when-employers-fail-do-right-migrant-employees> > click here to read full story

 The IER at the TUC

Come along to our IER Fringe at the TUC Congress this year to hear our experts speak on our 25 policy recommendations for the next Labour government - and pick up a free fish and chip supper!

The IER will once again be co-hosting our fringe with the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom and the General Federation of Trade Unions.

Speakers at the event include Len McCluskey (General Secretary of UNITE), Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC (President and Chair of the IER), and Jane Carolan (Chair of UNISON's Policy Committee). 

It will be held at the Regency Room of Old Ship Hotel on Kings Road in Brighton at 7pm on Sunday 11 September. We hope to see you there!

  Publications

 EU Developments <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/fb25d1db-2c1e-4d50-8d47-17dc166f146f.jpeg> 

	Access to Justice: Exposing the myths: £6
By Andrew Moretta
In the second of IER’s series of Mythbusters, Andrew Moretta considers the many myths surrounding access to justice, including the narrative surrounding the “red tape” and “burdens on business” ideology, which he believes paved the way for systematic attacks on the tribunal system.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/access-justice-exposing-myths> > click here to read more and purchase

 Kill the Bill <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/3a996d1c-1459-4dfb-81b8-8901488dad8a.jpg> 

	Protect the right to strike: kill the bill: £5
By John Hendy QC & Professor Keith Ewing
Two leading experts on trade union rights – Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC – publish a short but comprehensive overview of the Trade Union Bill and its implications.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/protect-right-strike-kill-bill> > click here to read more and purchase 

 Ballot Thresholds <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/cee8b19e-c2dc-452d-a284-b14209fbf568.jpg> 

	The Conservative Government’s proposed strike ballot thresholds: The challenge to trade unions: from £6
By Professor Ralph Darlington and Dr John Dobson
According to the authors of this timely report, the government is attempting to rush into law ‘the most sweeping and radical tightening of rules on industrial action since the Thatcher era of the 1980’s’. They warn that such proposals could result in ‘the biggest showdown over industrial relations for a generation’ and go on to drill down into one aspect of the government’s proposals – strike ballots.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/conservative-government%E2%80%99s-proposed-strike-ballot-thresholds-challenge-trade-unions-0> > click here to read more and purchase 

 Keithe Ewing <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/6ac2ddd4-6bd6-4c3f-81ad-06fdb882171c.jpg> 

	The mythology of business: from £6
By David Whyte
The ‘myths’ that this publication takes into consideration are the kind of things that politicians now routinely say without thinking. Yet these 10 myths have very little foundation in reality and are rarely, if ever, accompanied with any concrete evidence to support them.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/mythology-business> > click here to read more and purchase 

  Events

 EU Developments <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/bf7bc975-9b7d-423f-90f2-32b140efb056.png> 

	LIVERPOOL: Health and Safety Update 2016
04 October 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30
Unite the Union, Liverpool
An update on problematic developments in health and safety legislation and what can be done to reverse their harmful effects. Topics include HSE's new strategy, the reduction in inspections, worker experiences of pursuing compensation, comparisons with other European countries and developments in the construction industry on worker engagement and mental health. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/3048> > click here to read more and book your place

 EU Developments <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/370dcc94-63f0-4712-9842-455298351ed9.png> 

	LONDON: Health and Safety Update 2016
18 October 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30
Unite the Union, London
An update on problematic developments in health and safety legislation and what can be done to reverse their harmful effects. Topics include HSE's new strategy, the reduction in inspections, worker experiences of pursuing compensation, comparisons with other European countries and developments in the construction industry on worker engagement and mental health. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/3046> > click here to read more and book your place

 ELU London <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/8ef4ad46-3f93-4621-8f5e-8601d94a97cc.jpg> 

	LONDON: Employment Law Update 2016
09 November 2016 - 09:30 - 15:15
Unite the Union, London
Our annual Employment Law Update brings together legal and academic experts with a representative from the TUC. This year we are very pleased that our event will be opened with a keynote address from the President of the Tribunals, Judge Brian Doyle, updating us with an inside account of the current ET practices and procedures. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2016-london> > click here to read more and book your place

 ELU Liverpool <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/6bbca495-8ed6-4747-883d-63b5dc93bcc5.jpg> 

	LIVERPOOL: Employment Law Update 2016
29 November 2016 - 09:30 - 15:15
Unite the Union, Liverpool
Our annual Employment Law Update brings together legal and academic experts with a representative from the TUC. This year we are very pleased that our event will be opened with a keynote address from the President of the Tribunals, Judge Brian Doyle, updating us with an inside account of the current ET practices and procedures. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2016-liverpool> > click here to read more and book your place

To unsubscribe, please contact sarah at ier.org.uk <mailto:sarah at ier.org.uk?subject=Unsubscribe> . 

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