Regular Employment Issues

Casual workers and subcontractors can often suffer because they do not have a clear contract of employment.

This means that they may not enjoy the same pay and benefits as permanent workers. They are also vulnerable because they may not have the same redundancy and termination rights as other workers.

Some employers use repeated temporary contracts to avoid paying social security contributions on behalf of workers

Illegal and unethical employment practices on Britain's farms are coming under attack by the government. Each year over 100,000 casual workers are taken on to work in the fields and orchards around Britain. Since 21 Chinese cockle pickers died, the UK government is increasingly concerned about the 2,000 employers known as "gang masters" who strike deals with farmers to provide them with a force of casual labourers. Their charges are often from eastern Europe, work in appalling conditions and are paid a pittance. Meanwhile the gang masters take a cut of their wages and breach laws on tax, National Insurance, VAT and health and safety.