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A quarter of those interviewed said they had witnessed mistreatment of pregnant workers, such as the instant dismissal of agency workers who had announced they were pregnant. Pregnant women were also forced to continue to undertake work that posed risks to their health and safety, including heavy lifting and extended periods of standing.

 

EHRC says while migrant workers were most affected, British agency workers also faced similar mistreatment.

 

According to HR Magazine, more than eighty percent of the workers that gave evidence said that agency workers were treated worse than directly employed workers. Seven out of 10 workers said they thought they were treated badly in factories or by agencies because of their race or nationality.

 

Twenty percent of workers claim to have been pushed, kicked or having things thrown at them by line managers; over a third of workers interviewed said they had experienced, or witnessed verbal abuse, often on a daily basis. Workers also reported being refused permission to take toilet breaks, and subsequently urinating or bleeding on themselves at the production line.

 

Nearly one third of workers endured this treatment without complaint both because of fears that their work would be terminated as a result and that it would affect their goal of securing stable employment. These workers also had little knowledge of their rights or how to make complaints. 

 

According to HR Magazine, as a result of the inquiry, the Commission is making a number of recommendations. They include supermarkets improving their auditing of suppliers; processing firms and agencies improving recruitment practices, working environments and the ability of workers to raise issues of concern; and for the Government to provide sufficient resources for the Gangmasters' Licensing Agency to help safeguard the welfare and interests of workers.

 

The Commission will review action taken over the next 12 months by supermarkets, processing firms and recruitment agencies, and will consider taking enforcement action if necessary.