Trade unions in the north of England are calling for greater regulation of unscrupulous agencies and employers to help prevent the exploitation of migrant construction workers.

A report by TUC Northern uncovered some serious problems for migrants recruited to work in the North East, including overcrowded or poor-quality housing, low pay, intimidation and even the use of violence.
The investigation found several agencies and employers operating outside the law, although all were persuaded back into legality after negotiations with the unions and authorities.

Some foreign construction workers suffered poor and dangerous conditions, earning less than the minimum wage and being denied essential documentation such as wage slips or contracts.
TUC regional secretary Kevin Rowan says the findings have been used to help develop a support network for migrant workers coming into the UK.
“The cases in the report demonstrate the need for much greater regulation of the employment agency sector. This work has informed a national TUC strategy which involves providing information, advice and guidance to migrant workers,” he said.

About 31,000 new migrant workers currently work in the North East, but skills shortages and market growth mean that employers need as many potential candidates as possible.
The region’s construction sector currently employs 104,800 people, but this figure is expected to rise to more than 111,000 in the next four years.
Report author Ian Fitzgerald, a researcher at Northumbria University, says that migrant labour is becoming increasingly important to employers in the region, with workers filling valuable skills gaps.
He adds that particular quirks in the UK construction sector fuel the problem, with widespread self-employment, ‘cash-in-hand’ payment and the use of sub-contractors making it difficult to fully regulate the market.

John Scott, regional secretary of construction trade union UCATT, says a minority of dishonest companies are diverting attention from the good work carried out in the region.
“We need to keep a watchful eye on these unscrupulous operators, and I would suggest this sort of thing is happening all round the country,” he said. “Most are genuinely seeking to integrate migrant staff into the workforce, but a minority are exploiting them.”