HSE publishes guidance on migrant workers

Date: 24th June 2008

Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released information for employers, explaining their responsibilities in relation to migrant workers.

In addition to offering advice to the workers themselves, the HSE has released information on health and safety-related issues for employers of migrant workers.

Such employers may include companies, gangmasters, and employment agencies.

"A migrant worker is considered to be someone who is or has been working in Great Britain (GB) in the last 12 months and has come to GB from abroad to work within the last five years," said the HSE.

Among the advice given by the HSE, is the recommendation that the hours worked by the employee are recorded and that issues such as those relating to languages and the transferability of qualifications are borne in mind.

For workers, the HSE has confirmed that employers have a duty to reveal the health and safety risks of the work being undertaken.