The Commission on Vulnerable Employment recently visited Manchester, to meet with both people who have experienced vulnerable employment and organisations who have supported them.

The Commission started with a round table discussion event which included representatives from the Citizens Advice Bureau, ACAS, North Manchester Law Centre, Oxfam, Migrant Workers NW, Advance Personel, Liverpool People’s Centre, Manchester Pay and Employment Rights Service and Manchester Advice.

The Commission then met with migrant workers who are employed accross the NW. People reported experiences including being denied wages for their work, violence and racism at work and being paid below the National Minimum Wage.

Another visit was held with homeworkers. Respondents reported being paid as little as 60p to make a pair of trousers - a task that is impossible to complete in less than 15 minutes, leaving them with an hourly wage of £2.40. The National Group on Homeworking and the Rochdale Homeworking Service supported the visit.

Meetings then took place with agency workers, and with workers who have taken their employers to employment tribunals. During these sessions the Commission also heard about Aspire - an self supporting employment agency run as a social enterprise by Work Solutions with East Manchester New Deal for Communities. All residents taking part in the initiative hold full-time employment contracts with the Agency, thus allowing them to earn a reliable wage and receive education and training when they are not working for other employers.

Over the next eight weeks the Commission will be undertaking further visits to London, Wales and the South West of England.

Filed under: Uncategorized