The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.

Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities.

• Our impact report

• Our service strategy 2008-2011

Citizens Advice response to the report of the BERR Vulnerable Worker Enforcement Forum

05-08-2008

Richard Dunstan, social policy officer for employment and immigration at Citizens Advice said:

"Citizens Advice values this Report and the important progress by the Government to strengthen its commitment to helping vulnerable workers. The single telephone Enforcement Helpline and the awareness raising campaign are particularly welcomed.

"A great many of the clients we see with employment issues are vulnerable workers, who are too afraid of losing their job to report abuses. The proposals to target such workers with specific information on where to turn to for help and to have one gateway telephone number will therefore be of immense benefit.

"We also welcome the report’s recognition that workers who have been through the Employment Tribunal process need confidence that they will be able to enforce their awards”.  Our research shows that as many as one in ten awards go unpaid, and indeed that rogue employers can ignore tribunal judgments with impunity.  This needs to change, and we will continue to press the Government to close this shocking loophole in the tribunal system.

"It is only by ensuring that employment rights are properly enforced that the government can give protection to the most vulnerable.  As the Minister notes in his foreword to the Report, there should be no hiding place for employers who are not prepared to obey the law”.

Notes to editors on Citizens Advice

1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales; www.citizensadvice.org.uk
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
4. Advice and information  www.adviceguide.org.uk
5. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
6. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089

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