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BECTU and government departments join forces to tackle exploitation

Today (Friday) the HMRC, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Department for Cultural, Media and Sport agreed the following statement:

"BECTU, HMRC, BIS and DCMS are collaborating to tackle abuses in the media and entertainment sector. There is a growing concern that individuals who are entitled to be paid the national minimum wage are working for 'expenses only'. Whilst genuine work experience benefits the employer and the individual, exploitation of vulnerable workers is unacceptable."

This statement is a response to many representations by BECTU, Equity and others to government departments over an extended period.

It comes four months after a successful tribunal case, supported by BECTU, which has prompted much debate, not least amongst those involved in micro/low-budget film-making. A valuable and lively debate on the subject took place in London last night. 

The tribunal case, Nicola Vetta v London Dreams Motion Pictures Ltd established that expenses only engagements are illegal as they deny workers their statutory entitlement to the national minimum wage.