Migrant workers face greater health and safety risks at construction sites.
A research conducted by Synovate has revealed that employers are exploiting foreign workers at various construction sites in the UK. These workers have become easy targets because of their ignorance about their workplace rights.
The survey also found that the knowledge of most workers about the health and safety standards to be maintained at construction sites is woefully limited. Many of them have never even heard of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Philip White, the Chief Inspector of Construction at the HSE, said that the organisation understood the need to spread health and safety information to the most vulnerable construction workers.
As a corrective measure, the HSE has embarked upon a concerted attempt at removing this ignorance among the migrant construction workers.
Workers are to be educated about their health and safety rights at workplace. Secondly, they will be told that they have the same rights as British workers. Thirdly, they will be asked to be more proactive in reporting violations of these rules.
The London-based workers from Poland, Romania and India have been identified as the most vulnerable group.
Since the initial objective of this programme is to inform and educate, many Polish-speaking representatives have been selected for the dissemination of information to the Polish workers. Small cards with all the information printed on them in their indigenous language are also to be distributed to nearly thirty thousand workers. Electronic communication is also being used for the purpose - a dedicated help line, an e-mail address and a microsite have been put up for workers in need of support and information.
Written by Giles Kendrick
giles.kendrick@googlemail.com
http://www.workplacelaw.net/
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