Migrant workers in the UK could have greater protection against bogus job agencies if a UK union is successful in its bid to extend the Gangmasters Act to protect construction workers.

The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) is in talks with the UK Government to extend the Gangmasters Act to protect construction workers.
A source in the union said the industry had been targeted by gangmasters posing as employment agencies since the 2006 law was brought in to protect casual labour in the agriculture, food processing and shellfish collection sectors.
The Act was brought in following the deaths of 23 immigrant cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay in February 2004.
In June, just before stepping down, then Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the Government would consider extending the Gangmaster Bill to cover the construction industry.
However the Government’s Business Secretary John Hutton recently angered UCATT when he said that revamped regulations on construction and design introduced in April were better suited to handing abuses of casual workers in the construction industry. UCATT said the regulations only covered safety issues and didn’t deal with minimum wage or protection against exploitation.
UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie told delegates at the Labour Party annual conference that “cattle going to slaughter have more rights than these workers. Gangmasters calling themselves employment agencies are moving into construction. Unlike agriculture, food processing and shellfish collection, they do not need a licence.
“When migrant workers arrive in Britain, their passports are confiscated so they cannot return home. These gangmasters increase their exploitation through huge deductions for flights and accommodation.”
Sheridan told delegates here he was disappointed with Hutton's initial stance on extending the legislation, saying existing rules “do not work”.