I have a meeting next week with a government Minister on agency workers. I need more detailed examples of the problem.
Tesco deny a problem, well they would wouldn’t they. Just like all the big supermarkets say that it they have to over price milk and other agricultural
products to help farmers. Actually they could pay farmers more out of their huge profits and some have been caught price fixing.
And Tesco choose to move to a totally unsuitable site in Worksop, with a result in traffic that will haunt us for decades. The price of milk across Worksop
varied by 25 pence the last time I looked- perhaps I will do a price check in this column on occasion.
Some agencies are worse than Tescos. The scam that these agencies are operating is this: they provide housing and legally deduct a percentage of wages. They
allow over-crowded houses, boosting their rental income. Then they provide transport at high prices to the workplace. I have Polish workers coming to see me to expose the scam, but people are
scared of losing their jobs.
I would like any information about how these agencies are operating because it needs to be stopped.
I am getting involved in the issue of internet crime, including paedophiles and fascists using the internet to spread their filth, but avoiding UK law
because the internet site is hosted abroad. I have confirmation from government about how these people can be prosecuted and I am seeing through a test case to ensure this can be done on every
occasion.
One test case that has been one is with Raleys, who are beginning to cave in on double charging miners. You will recall how they even double charged
widows in this area and elsewhere. Well 20 cases progressed this week to my satisfaction, and a number of people have now received cheques. For the first time Raleys have started sending cheques
directly to people. Obviously they are beginning to feel the heat and anyone charged a fee by them should come forward, even if you have thrown away your papers and even if you signed for these
deductions. |