The appointment of Matthew Taylor to chair the new Fair Work Agency is a welcome step towards addressing longstanding issues in the labour market (14 October). But the creation of a single enforcement body will only be transformative if it is matched by sustained investment and political will.
For too long, the enforcement of labour market rules has been undermined not by the failure of regulators but by chronic underresourcing. HMRC’s national minimum wage unit and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, for example, have faced staffing and budget cuts that have had an impact on their ability to inspect, investigate and prosecute violations.
This is especially damaging for workers in insecure employment and for ethnic minority groups, who are disproportionately affected by labour abuses, health and safety breaches, and exploitation.
There needs to be national and sectoral strategies to tackle insecure work and workers’ rights violations, as well as the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. It must go beyond audits and governance improvements. It demands a cultural shift that builds workplaces rooted in trust, safety and dignity.
The government should commit to a long-term employment, financial and human resources plan for the Fair Work Agency. Without resources, it risks becoming a well-intentioned initiative without the ability to deliver real change.
Ruth Wilkinson
Head of policy and public affairs, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
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