A supplier of Fair Trade fruit has been accused of exploiting migrant workers in a BBC programme.

Eastern European workers at Pratt’s Bananas in Luton, say they have to work excessive hours over six or seven days. They also said that they are refused breaks if they do not meet quotas.

Pratt’s Banana and its recruitment agency Response Personnel told the BBC that the welfare and safety of their workers was of paramount importance and that they have started an investigation.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber says: “This is a shocking indictment of working conditions in Britain today, not a fly-by-night small business but a major supplier to supermarkets throughout the country.”