ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <title>Amber Initiatives</title> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="Amber Initiatives provides practical support for migrant workers in the UK and for those planning to come" name=description> <META content="amber, forum,your rights, work in the UK, basic right, minimum wage, paid holidays, employment agency, day of work, agency worker, national minimum wage, working time right, break, holiday pay, working week, health & safety protection, to join union, health and safety, unfair discrimination, training, helpline, make complaint, underpayment, deduction, accommodation, set hours, amount of work, minimum wage protection, rest break, annual leave, weeks' paid, employment, hourly pay rate, holiday pay, sum for holiday pay, 13th month payment, holiday subsidy, Britain, regular night worker, 24-hour period, working time regulation, night work, night worker, health assessment, free health, working week, right to work, protection from discrimination, hiring company, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, religion, union membership, to join, union" name=keywords> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css"> </head> <body leftmargin=0 topmargin=0 marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" height="100%"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="50%" background="img/bg.gif"><img src="img/px1.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="" border="0"></td> <td valign="bottom" background="img/bg_left.gif"><img src="img/bg_left.gif" alt="" width="17" height="16" border="0"></td> <td bgcolor="#95A2AB"> <table width="780" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><img src="img/logo.jpg" width="790" height="105"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td background="img/fon03.gif"> <div class="left"><A href="index-eng.html">Home</A> | <A class=left href="about-eng.html"><B>About us</A>| </B> &nbsp; </DIV> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="780"> <tr> <td height="14" background="img/fon01.gif"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="700"> <tr bgcolor="#EAE4D3" valign="top"> <td align="center" width="75%" background="CCFF99"> <br> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="541"> <tr> <td><img src="img/t11.gif" width="10" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif"><img src="img/t12.gif" width="29" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="164" height="22"> <tr> <td background="img/t_top.gif"><p class="title01">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; YOUR RIGHTS</p></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif" align="right"><img src="img/t13.gif" width="29" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td><img src="img/t14.gif" width="9" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td background="img/fon_left.gif"><img src="img/t21.gif" width="10" height="133" alt="" border="0"></td> <td colspan="3" rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <p class="left"><img src="img/dot_g.gif" width="5" height="5" alt="" border="0" align="middle"> <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Your rights as a worker</U></FONT></STRONG> <P> Everyone at work in the UK enjoys some basic right such as the minimum wage and a right to paid holidays. <P>Most people at work in the UK are employees, and therefore get better rights. But many of the jobs likely to be done by those coming to this country to work for short periods  including almost all those provided by employment agencies  may not count as employees. <P> Everyone at work, including al agency workers, enjoys these rights from their first day of work: <BR> * the National Minimum Wage; <BR> * working time rights ( including breaks, holidays and holiday pay and a limit on the working week); <BR> * health and safety protection; <BR> * the right to join a union; <BR> * protection from unfair discrimination. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>The National Minimum Wage</U></FONT></STRONG> <BR> This is minimum that you can be paid for each hour that you work: <BR> - if you are 22 or over you should get at least £5.73 an hour; <BR> - if you are aged 18 to 21 you should get at least £4.77 an hour; <BR> - if you are 16 or 17 you should get at least £3.53 an hour; <P> To check on how the National Minimum Wage applies to you, telephone the National Minimum Wage Helpline on <U><B><FONT color=#006f7f>0845 6000 678</FONT></B></U>. This is also the number to ring if you think you are being underpaid and wish to make a complaint. <BR>All complaints about underpayment of the National Minimum Wage are treated in the strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous if they wish to do so. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>What deductions can be legally made from your pay?</U></FONT></STRONG> <BR>- If accommodation is provided for you. The daily rate of the accommodation offset is £4.46 (£31.22 per week) for each day that accommodation is provided. <BR> - If transport is provided to get you to and from work. There is no limit of this and it is a common source of abuse. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U> What if you have no set hours?</U></FONT></STRONG> <BR> Some people are paid by the amount of work they do, rather than how long they work. You still get some minimum wage protection, but the system used to work it out has been abused so much that it is changing, from October 2004. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Working Time Rights </U></FONT></STRONG> <BR> These cover rest breaks, holidays and holiday pay, night work and how many hours you can work each week. <P><U><B>Rest breaks</B></U> <BR> You have the right to a rest break of 20 minutes where your working day is longer than six hours. If you are under 18, however, you are entitled to a 30-minute break after working four and a half hours. <P><U><B>Holidays</B></U> <BR> You should receive four weeks paid annual leave. <BR> (Some employment agencies have been getting round this by saying that your hourly pay rate includes holiday pay and that they therefore do not have to give extra pay if you take a break. At the very least, your contract must clearly state that your pay includes a sum for holiday pay and what amount that is.) <BR> Note that practices which you may be used to, such as 13th (or 14th) month payments, and holiday subsidy, are not normal in Britain. <P><U><B>Night work</B></U> <BR> Regular night workers should not work more than eight hours in each 24- hour period. The Working Time regulations allow for night work to be averaged over a 17-week period in the same way as weekly hours of work. Night workers are also entitled to a free health assessment. <P><U><B>Working week</B></U> <BR> You have the right not to work more than 48 hours a week on average. This limit is averaged over a 17-week period. You can sigh away this right, but cannot be pressured to opt out, and can opt back in again at any time though you may have to wait for up to three months to gain protection. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Health and Safety protection </U></FONT></STRONG> <BR> Your employer has a duty to provide you with a safe and healthy working environment. This should include training you about the health and safety issues in your workplace. There are many special rules that will apply in any workplace where there are special risks to workers. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Protection from discrimination </U></FONT></STRONG> <BR> You have the right not to be treated less favourably than other workers by your agency or the hiring company on the grounds of sex, race, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation and religion or belief. From 2006 it will also be unlawful for employers to discriminate against workers and job seekers on ground of age. <P><STRONG><FONT color=#006f7f>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Union membership </U></FONT></STRONG> <BR> You are allowed to join a union. You do not have to tell your employer if you are a member. You cannot be discriminated against for being a union member. </FONT> </STRONG> </td> <td background="img/fon_right.gif"><img src="img/t24.gif" width="9" height="133" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td background="img/fon_left.gif"><img src="img/t31.gif" width="10" height="7" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_right.gif"><img src="img/t34.gif" width="9" height="7" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="img/t41.gif" width="10" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif"><img src="img/t42.gif" width="29" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif"><img src="img/fon_bot.gif" width="31" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif" align="right"><img src="img/t43.gif" width="29" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td><img src="img/t44.gif" width="9" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> </table> <br> </td> <td align="center" width="25%" background="CCFF99"> <br> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width=230> <tr> <td><img src="img/t11.gif" width="10" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif"><img src="img/t12.gif" width="29" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="164" height="22"> <tr> <td background="img/t_top.gif"><p class="title01">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TUC</p></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif" align="right"><img src="img/t13.gif" width="29" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td><img src="img/t14.gif" width="9" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td background="img/fon_left.gif"><img src="img/t21.gif" width="10" height="133" alt="" border="0"></td> <td colspan="3" rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <p class="left"><img src="img/dot_g.gif" width="5" height="5" alt="" border="0" align="middle">&nbsp;&nbsp; Trade Union Congress <p class="left"> <a href="http://www.tuc.org.uk/">Britain at work</a> <br><IMG align="right" height=85 src="img/TUC-logo.gif" width=122 border=0></p> </td> <td background="img/fon_right.gif"><img src="img/t24.gif" width="9" height="133" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td background="img/fon_left.gif"><img src="img/t31.gif" width="10" height="7" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_right.gif"><img src="img/t34.gif" width="9" height="7" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="img/t41.gif" width="10" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif"><img src="img/t42.gif" width="29" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif"><img src="img/fon_bot.gif" width="31" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif" align="right"><img src="img/t43.gif" width="29" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td><img src="img/t44.gif" width="9" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> </table> <P><P> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><img src="img/t11.gif" width="10" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif"><img src="img/t12.gif" width="29" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="164" height="22"> <tr> <td background="img/t_top.gif"><p class="title01">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; GLA</p></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td background="img/fon_top.gif" align="right"><img src="img/t13.gif" width="29" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> <td><img src="img/t14.gif" width="9" height="22" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td background="img/fon_left.gif"><img src="img/t21.gif" width="10" height="133" alt="" border="0"></td> <td colspan="3" rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="390"> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td> <p><BR> <p class="left"><img src="img/dot_g.gif" width="5" height="5" alt="" border="0" align="middle"> &nbsp;&nbsp; <STRONG>The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) <P class="left"><A href="GLA-eng.html">Mission, activities, news </a> <p class="left"><img src="img/dot_g.gif" width="5" height="5" alt="" border="0" align="middle"> &nbsp;&nbsp; <STRONG> <P class="left"><A href="http://www.gla.gov.uk/report/Default.aspx?Lang=1">Tell the GLA about any labour provider who is exploiting the welfare and rights of workers. </a> </FONT> </STRONG><A href="http://www.amber-initiatives.com/forum/index.php"> </A> </p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td background="img/fon_right.gif"><img src="img/t24.gif" width="9" height="133" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td background="img/fon_left.gif"><img src="img/t31.gif" width="10" height="7" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_right.gif"><img src="img/t34.gif" width="9" height="7" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="img/t41.gif" width="10" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif"><img src="img/t42.gif" width="29" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif"><img src="img/fon_bot.gif" width="31" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td background="img/fon_bot.gif" align="right"><img src="img/t43.gif" width="29" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> <td><img src="img/t44.gif" width="9" height="15" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> </table> <br> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="780"> <tr> <td height="62" background="images/fon02.gif"><p>Copyright &copy;2003 CompanyName.com</p></td> <td background="images/fon02.gif"> <p class="menu02"> <a href="index-eng.html">Home</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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