French-based company Bouygues is building the new Broomfield Hospital Site. The company has recruited a predominantly Portuguese workforce who currently number between 400-600.
Both Bouygues and the local hospital trust have refused to provide UCATT the main construction union, with access to the workers on the site and have not provided details of the workers pay and conditions, fuelling concern that the employment rights of the workers are being breached.
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Brian Rye, UCATT's Eastern Regional Secretary, said: "I have repeatedly tried to forge links with Bouygues in order to work in partnership to guarantee pay, conditions, work practices and health and safety. The company has refused entirely to co-operate. What have they got to hide?"
The vast majority of new hospitals are built using the Construction Industry Joint Council Working Rule Agreement, which guarantees workers minimum pay rates and ensures that they have good working conditions and are not forced to work excessive hours. It is understood the agreement is not in operation at Broomfield Hospital
Last November a Portuguese construction worker was killed on the site.
Mr Rye, added: "Our campaign will help to educate and inform the workers about what they should be entitled to and what their rights are. It is my experience that many migrant construction workers do not possess this knowledge, which leaves them in danger of exploitation."
(CD/JM)
