Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 151
Commit to a long-term financial plan for labour enforcement bodies meeting ILO minimum resourcing
Recommendation
We call on the Government to commit to a long-term financial plan with the new single enforcement body (or existing bodies if it declines the opportunity to create a single enforcement body) to ensure that it is resourced to at least the minimum level of what is deemed appropriate by the International Labour Organisation.
Government Response Summary
The government is reviewing the creation of a Single Enforcement Body and highlights its continued investment in existing enforcement bodies, noting past funding increases and current staffing levels, but does not commit to a specific long-term financial plan as requested.
Paragraph Reference:
151
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
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. 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.