The Government is consulting on the options for establishing a single labour market enforcement body to improve the enforcement of employment rights for vulnerable workers and to create a level playing field for the majority of businesses who are complying with the law.

The consultation follows on from the Good Work Plan and it proposes combining the enforcement remits of HMRC, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) into a single enforcement body. The proposed core remit of that body would be:

•    National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage
•    Holiday pay for vulnerable workers
•    Domestic regulations relating to employment agencies
•    Umbrella companies
•    Licences to supply temporary labour in high risk sectors in agriculture and the fresh food supply chain
•    Labour exploitation and modern slavery related to worker exploitation.

In addition to this proposed core remit, the Government recognises that there are wider areas of enforcement related to the workplace where a new single enforcement body could play a role, e.g. statutory sick pay, discrimination and harassment in the workplace and enforcement of employment tribunal awards. It therefore also seeks views on the interaction with these areas. Finally, the consultation considers the powers and sanctions that might be made available to the new body.

The consultation closes on 6 October 2019. 

Source: New feed