Great Britain: construction union UCATT succeeds in banning the use of umbrella companies by two local authorities

The Construction union, the Union of Construction and Allied Technical Trades (UCATT), has secured its first two major victories in its campaign against the use of ‘umbrella companies’ used by many employers in the construction and building sectors as a way of avoiding paying national insurance tax. These are with an english local council authority and  with the Welsh Assembly government.
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In Yorkshire, Labour led Kirklees council has decided to ensure that employment agencies and other private employers engaged by the council will pay workers directly and not via umbrella companies or false self-employment. Workers will receive an agreed hourly rate, travel expenses, and holiday pay (paid when leave is taken).

Earlier in the year, the Welsh Assembly Government through Edwina Hart, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, confirmed that no worker on the building of a major

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