Tackling Illegal Working in Construction

Revised ‘Spotlight on... illegal workers’ launched

Illegal working can pose a safety risk on construction sites and facilitates the exploitation of vulnerable people trapped in modern slavery. Additionally, employing illegitimate labour carries heavy penalties and undermines efforts to improve the image of the construction industry.

The Scheme has carried out a survey of construction industry professionals which showed the concerning scale of the issue:

93% agreed illegal working could be better tackled in the construction industry
81% would say illegal working has been on the rise over the past 15 years
61% admitted they have not received, or rarely receive information on illegal working
33% suspected a chance that illegal working had been present at a previous or current employer

To address the problem of illegal workers in construction, the Scheme has partnered with the Home Office to provide expert guidance to construction professionals on how to stamp out illegal working. The aim of this comprehensive toolkit is to raise awareness of the issue of illegal work in the industry, emphasising the importance of taking proactive measures to protect all employees and improve the image of the industry.

Practical Advice

Our revised and updated ‘Spotlight on… illegal workers’ learning toolkit provides a wealth of practical advice and guidance to support employers and employees, including information on vetting and compliance procedures. This detailed guide on our Best Practice Hub also contains examples of best practice procedures along with exemplary case studies from a variety of contractors who have tackled the issue with success. Additionally, the toolkit contains vital links to other supportive organisations and resources which will enable anyone to find out more about illegal working.

Click here to access the full ‘Spotlight on... illegal workers’ toolkit. Or get in touch if you would like to find out more about how we can support you in tackling the issue. You can reach us by emailing our team at enquiries@ccsbestpractice.org.uk.