§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish an inquiry into the practice of recruitment of workers in the United Kingdom for employment overseas in the light of the activities of Depike Engineering Limited; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its employment service division has recently introduced a number of workers to Depike Engineering Limited, of Hayes, Middlesex, to work on a contract that the company was understood to be fulfilling in Germany. Two of the workers were engaged and no complaints about the employment have been received. As a result of a subsequent Press article concerning other employees of the company in Germany, further inquiries are to be made.
The Employment Agencies Act 1973 applies to employment a gencies and employment businesses—staff contractors—in Great Britain which supply workers to third parties abroad. Regulations made under the Act place specific obligations on such agencies and businesses, and failure to comply with these regulations is an offence. Complaints made to my Department are fully investigated, and the position of Depike Engineering Limited in relation to the Act is currently being examined. This Act, however, does not apply to sub-contractors who enter 173W into work contracts. I shall write to my hon. Friend when our inquiries are complete.