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SLAVE LABOUR?

12th July 2001, Page 20
12th July 2001
Page 20
Page 20, 12th July 2001 — SLAVE LABOUR?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Recent issues of CMhave highlighted apparent gross exploitation of owner-drivers in the quarry and building materials sectors.

These unfortunate, hardworking men seem little more than slaves! They have in most if not all cases to lease their trucks/trailers from the parent companies, and in many cases are forced to buy fuel, tyres, maintenance and even insurance from the same source, at exorbitant rates. Also without the option, they have to buy two-way radios and text phones, etc.

The rates are dictated to them, often without any negotiation; some ownerdrivers' contracts are arbitrarily ended, and then given to one large operator.

The truth of the matter must be that if there was any real money to be made on this type of work, rest assured that the parent companies would probably buy their own vehicles and employ drivers directly. But apparently there isn't, so exploitation takes place instead.

How any person working under this kind of regime could be said to be truly independently employed in their own business Is beyond me: perhaps the Inland Revenue ought to crack down on this type of scheme?

Surely an independent owner-driver is someone who owns his own vehicle and has more than one client.

Name and address supplied.

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