Henry Smith MP featured in last night’s BBC Newsnight’s expose into the low pay, long hours and hard physical work in the hotel cleaning sector which is increasingly staffed almost entirely by migrant labour.
Commenting on the interview, Henry explained:
“Many hotels outsource their staffing requirements to contract cleaning agencies, some of whom employ pretty cynical wage models in that they are not only paying the lowest possible wage but are creating terms and conditions that are only attractive to migrant labour.
“My instincts are not to reach for the statute book and additional regulation but rather to better enforce existing employment protection laws.”
In October last year, Henry called for a debate in the House of Commons on discrimination against British workers in this country following an employment tribunal case which was brought against two local British cleaners who were sacked allegedly for being British.
Henry continued:
“I would urge local hotel operators to ensure that the staff that they employ through contract cleaning agencies meet requirements under British employment law.”