Ann McKechin MP today welcomed the launch of a new national helpline to protect vulnerable workers.

The new Pay and Work Rights helpline is part of a wider campaign to raise awareness of workplace rights introduced by the Labour Government.  It will provide a unified point of contact for both employers and workers.

Ann McKechin MP said:

“This Labour Government has an extraordinary record on promoting, championing and legislating for workplace rights and I’m proud to have played a part in that in Parliament. This new hotline makes it easier than ever for vulnerable workers and employers to ask questions about the rules we have brought in and to report bad or illegal practice whenever it occurs”

Business Minister, Pat McFadden said:

“This Government has done a lot to improve rights at work but it’s also essential to make sure these rights are properly enforced. A simple system for reporting abuses and giving advice and information to employers and workers is a critical part of that.

“By consolidating the current complex system of different helplines for different issues into one single number we are making it easier for workers to report abuses and for Government to respond. We want to transfer the burden of navigating the system from the worker to the Government. This is an important step and we are determined that the recession does not become an excuse to deny people their basic rights at work”.

• The hotline number is 0800 917 2368 and comes on line today.