Organising in the global workplace - Global Labour Institute UK
Labour Migration in Hard Times 20 th November 2013 Workplace enforcement
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Transcript of Labour Migration in Hard Times 20 th November 2013 Workplace enforcement
LabourLabour MigrationMigration in Hard Times in Hard Times2020thth November 2013 November 2013
Workplace enforcementWorkplace enforcement
Nick ClarkNick Clark
UK: second least regulated labour UK: second least regulated labour market in OECD (2008)market in OECD (2008)
UK: second least regulated labour UK: second least regulated labour market in OECD (2008)market in OECD (2008)
Over-represented amongst the least Over-represented amongst the least protectedprotected
Obligatory self-employmentObligatory self-employment Agency workers (Swedish derogation)Agency workers (Swedish derogation) Domestic workersDomestic workers Tied to employer by immigration regulationsTied to employer by immigration regulations Contracts deemed unlawful Contracts deemed unlawful
Immigration rulesImmigration rules Undeclared workUndeclared work
Principal forms of enforcementPrincipal forms of enforcement
Do it yourself 1: Employment Tribunals (& Do it yourself 1: Employment Tribunals (& county courts)county courts)
Health & Safety ExecutiveHealth & Safety Executive National Minimum Wage InspectorateNational Minimum Wage Inspectorate Gangmasters Licensing AuthorityGangmasters Licensing Authority Insolvency Service (& RPO)Insolvency Service (& RPO) Employment Agency Standards InspectorateEmployment Agency Standards Inspectorate Equality & Human Rights CommissionEquality & Human Rights Commission Do it yourself 2: “organic enforcement”Do it yourself 2: “organic enforcement”
Organic enforcement in actionOrganic enforcement in action
RMT Eurostar cleanersRMT Eurostar cleanersPhoto: Unite the Photo: Unite the ResistanceResistance
Disappearing enforcementDisappearing enforcement
ETs ETs EASI EASI Agricultural Wages BoardAgricultural Wages Board GLA GLA HSE HSE
Disappearing enforcementDisappearing enforcement
ETs – placed out of reach through feesETs – placed out of reach through fees EASI – absorbed into NMWIEASI – absorbed into NMWI Agricultural Wages BoardAgricultural Wages Board GLA – pre-licensing inspectionsGLA – pre-licensing inspections HSE – London Outreach projectHSE – London Outreach project
Disappearing enforcementDisappearing enforcement
From HSE Annual report 2011-12
Enforcement a-plentyEnforcement a-plenty
Photo: IndymediaPhoto: Indymedia
ConclusionsConclusions
by focusing on migrant groups we shine a light on the routine exploitation in certain areas of the labour market
enforcement methods are being further weakened in the names of austerity and deregulation
breaches of fundamental employment rights will go undetected and unpunished
competition at the bottom end of the labour market will become more intense
even proactive approach (like the GLA’s) cannot do more than scratch at the surface
Organic enforcement plus unions in the role of workers’ inspectors is needed