Some 200,000 construction workers are believed to be employed on bogus self-employment contracts through labour agencies. Following a measure toughening controls over bogus self-employment by the labour administration, which came into force in April, these agencies have established “umbrella payroll” companies to “sort out” the situation of those who used to be so-called self-employed. To offset the 25 percent of added contributions, these companies agencies are making their workers pay the agency’s contribution for holiday pays and national insurance, thus depriving them of a great deal of their income. Four unofficial strikes in construction and civil engineering have broken out, organised by self-employed workers who want to be directly employed by the contractors.
Some 35 electricians walked off of the job on an unofficial strike – that is without balloting or giving notice to the employer – at Three Bridges Station in Sussex. This was prompted by an unofficial strike the day before by mechanical and electrical workers at the AWE Aldermaston power plant. The demand of the workers has been to be taken on as direct employed workers by the contractors on the nationally agreed Joint Industry Board (JIB) terms and conditions of employment. The JIB terms and c
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