Foreign Workers (Hansard, 18 July 2002)

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are carried out to ensure that foreign workers engaged(a) in contracts at UK power stations and (b) on ferry services with the United Kingdom are not being exploited while employed within the United Kingdom to the disadvantage of British workers. [70623]

§ Alan Johnson
Under section 1(2) of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) 1998 a person qualifies for the national minimum wage if he works or ordinarily works in the United Kingdom under his contract. The United Kingdom includes UK territorial waters.
The minimum wage applies to all workers in all of the United Kingdom's power stations regardless of nationality. Similarly national minimum wage applies to all ferry service workers working within territorial waters. For mariners in general the right to receive at least the national minimum is extended to include any individual employed on a UK registered ship unless the employment is wholly outside the United Kingdom or the worker is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.
It is the role of the Inland Revenue to enforce the National Minimum Wage. They do that by responding to all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage and by visiting a sample of employers about whom no complaints have been made to check that all employers meet their obligations under National Minimum Wage Law. Checks are not made on the basis of worker nationality.
If any worker is being underpaid, or if anyone has knowledge of a company underpaying of the National Minimum Wage, they can ring the Inland Revenue Helpline number (0845 6000 678) to report the fact. Callers can remain anonymous.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether EU companies which obtain major contracts within the United Kingdom are required to pay their employees the minimum wage while working here. [70622]

§ Alan Johnson
Under section 1(2) of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) 1998 a person qualifies for the national minimum wage if he works or ordinarily works in the United Kingdom under his contract.
We would therefore expect all EU employees working in the United Kingdom to qualify for the minimum wage.