The BBC  has reported on accusations of exploitation of Eastern European migrant workers at Pratt’s bananas. Workers at the plant say they have to work excessive hours, six or seven days a week, and fear losing their jobs if they refuse.

A Polish woman who says she miscarried because of her duties is taking the firm to an industrial tribunal.  She said: “We don’t have a break because it was something like punishment. When you [were] finished you [had] a break - if you don’t finish, you don’t have a break.” She also said that during 10 to 12-hour shifts workers had to ask permission to go to the toilet, and if that was refused then workers had to remain on the production line.

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC and Chair of the Commission on Vulnerable Employment, said “This is a shocking indictment of working conditions in Britain today, not at a fly-by-night small business but a major supplier to supermarkets throughout the country. There is clear exploitation of loopholes in employment rights. And employers and agencies know that they can get away with ignoring and stretching rules as there is precious little effort to enforce many basic rights.”

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