Work and Money

Since September 2007, a small group of people have been meeting every month in Tower Hamlets Law Centre, to find out about their employment rights.

The Vulnerable Workers Project is a pilot, started with £400,000 of funding from the government's Business Department, BERR, and delivered by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The project focuses on workers in the building services industry, which includes cleaners and security guards.

130 people have been through the project so far but Bob Blythe, project manager of the Vulnerable Workers Project, says this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Struggling to survive

Poor English language abilities, low skills and a desperate need for work has meant that hundreds more people in east London are being exploited by employers.

Project members have described being grossly underpaid, unfairly dismissed from their jobs, and sometimes being forced to seek casual cash-in-hand work in order to survive.

The Employment Bill, which is currently before Parliament, promises to increase the penalties for employers who breach employment legislation and improve investigative powers.

The TUC’s General Secretary, Brendan Barber, said: "Unions are keen to help workers stop rogue employers from using an ignorance of UK employment law or a poor grasp of English as an excuse to treat people badly."

Have you had a bad experience working in Tower Hamlets? Email me at angela.saini@bbc.co.uk