Britain’s largest union, Unite called for an investigation into the
recruitment agency Transline today (Monday 23 January) and for the
government to put ‘its money where its mouth is’ and tackle modern
day slavery in the workplace. The call comes after it emerged that
two brothers were convicted of an offence under the Modern Slavery
Act. Erwin and Krystian Markowski admitted conning and threatening
workers they recruited for Transline which employed the workers at
Sports Direct’s...Request free trial
Britain’s largest union, Unite called for an investigation into the
recruitment agency Transline today (Monday 23 January) and for the
government to put ‘its money where its mouth is’ and tackle modern
day slavery in the workplace.
The call comes after it emerged that two brothers were
convicted of an offence under the Modern Slavery Act. Erwin and
Krystian Markowski admitted conning and threatening workers they
recruited for Transline which employed the workers at Sports
Direct’s Shirebrook warehouse.
Commenting Unite assistant general secretary Steve
Turner said: “The behaviour and the misery meted
out by the Markowski brothers on vulnerable workers would shame a
Dickens’ novel. It is all the more shocking that it took place in
21st century Britain in the warehouse of a high
street retailer.
“Transline, the recruitment agency involved, has
already got form when it comes to the exploitation of workers,
having had its licence to operate in the food and agriculture
sector taken away by the authorities. There now needs to by a full
scale investigation into Transline’s behaviour and employment
practices.
“Companies using recruitment agencies such as
Transline also need to take a long hard look at the behaviour of
the agencies they use. Pointing the finger and trying to abdicate
responsibility is morally wrong and will not avoid the reputational
damage that comes with cases such as
these.
“The government must put its money where its
mouth is too, by fully resourcing the Gangmasters Licensing
Authority and enforcement action against modern day slavers. This
shameful misery has no place in the workplace and can only be
eradicated by strong unions working with employers, backed up with
strong government action.”
