New measures to clamp down on rogue employers who exploit vulnerable workers have been unveiled by the Government.

Proposed changes include the implementation of a single telephone helpline to report the mistreatment of employees and a strengthening of the Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate.

A new Fair Employment Enforcement Board, including trade union and business officials, will oversee the work of enforcement groups checking minimum wage payments, health and safety, employment agencies and gangmasters.

However, calls to extend the remit of the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority were unheeded.

Launching the initiative, Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden, said: ‘Compared to a decade ago there are three million more people in work in Britain and they all enjoy more employment rights than they would have in the past. Important minimum standards on wages, paid leave, maternity leave and conditions have been put in place.

‘However, there are still dark corners of the labour market where rogue employers seek to mistreat their workers and more needs to be done to safeguard people's rights.’

The reforms follow the findings of the Vulnerable Workers Enforcement Forum, which was established to examine abuses of employment law. According to its conclusions, there remains a lack of awareness of employment rights and how they are enforced among vulnerable workers.