MHL reassures employers over IOSH fears for migrant workers

One of the UKís HR and H&S resource companies has assured employers with migrant workers that providing they are adhering to employment legislation they have nothing to fear amid fears from safety body the IOSH that migrants were at risk.

The Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) stated yesterday (Feb 5) that migrant workers were being put at serious risk by cost-cutting employers who werenít providing sufficient training or suitable supervision to new recruits.

But mhl support, the UKís fastest-growing provider of H&S and employment law expertise, said that the statement was too sweeping.

The reassurance comes on the fourth anniversary of the Morecambe Bay disaster, which saw 21 Chinese cockle pickers drown. Ray Hurst, president of the IOSH said that he was worried that more migrant lives could be lost and said that many migrant workers keen to earn as much in as shorter time as possible, took on jobs with existing safety concerns, putting them at risk.

mhl support said many of their clients employed migrants, valued them, and took the necessary measures to protect them.

ìAny good employer treats migrant workers exactly the same as UK employees and adheres to the same standards,î said CEO of mhl, Marc Schroder.

ìEmployees have a right to training, supervision and support, and if they have difficulty understanding the language, then that support should be provided in their native language. mhl provides many documents and official paperwork in a raft of languages to ensure that both employers and employees are fully covered.î

ìThe employers who do follow the correct protocol have nothing to worry about, they are not putting anyone at risk. It is unscrupulous employers who take short cuts that find themselves wide open to accidents and criticism. Employees need to be aware that they are entitled to H&S training, on-the-job training, supervision and support, and employers have an obligation to protect their employees and provide just that,î he added.