Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Deferred
Paragraph: 141
Government requested to update Committee on specific past labour practice commitments
Conclusion
We ask the Government to update the Committee on the status of each of the commitments made by the then Secretary for Transport, Rt Hon. Grant Shapps MP: • HMRC to dedicate significant resource to check that all UK ferry operators are compliant with the national minimum wage; • Maritime and Coastguard Agency to review its enforcement policies; and • Action to prevent employers who have not made reasonable efforts to reach agreement through consultation, from using fire and rehire tactics.
Government Response Summary
The government states commitment to workers’ rights but cites parliamentary time limits for substantial changes like a Single Enforcement Body. It provides general figures on investment and staffing for existing labour market enforcement bodies but does not specifically update on the three commitments from the former Secretary for Transport as requested.
Paragraph Reference:
141
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
This Government remains wholly committed to workers’ rights and enforcement. However, we need to be realistic about what we can achieve given the limits on parliamentary time. We are reviewing what this means for the creation of the Single Enforcement Body which would be a substantial organisational change. Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Government Response 19 In the meantime, we continue to invest significantly in the existing labour market enforcement bodies,and are working with the Director of Labour Market Enforcement to ensure that they are supported to work together as effectively as possible. The Government remains committed to the enforcement of workers’ rights. Over the decade from 2010 to 2020 the UK funding to the labour market enforcement bodies (HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Team, Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority) has increased to over £35 Million representing a 121% increase. As of May 2023, there are approximately 400 HMRC staff involved in the enforcement of the minimum wage. The GLAA currently have 56 enforcement officers and EAS have 36 FTE posts which have front line inspection capacity.