New National Helpline for Workers: 0800 917 2368

The last decade has seen great strides made in promoting, championing and legislating for workplace rights, Despite these improvements, independent research shows that many people are not fully aware of these rights.

In response to these findings, the Government has launched a new national helpline for working people which will provide advice about workplace rights and enable them to report any abuses of those rights.

The new Pay and Work Rights Helpline (0800 917 2368) is part of a wider campaign to raise awareness of rights in the work place and will provide a unified point of contact for both employers and workers.

This new service has been developed in cooperation with employers, trade unions and the different enforcement agencies across Government. The helpline can help working people with queries relating to the National Minimum Wage, working hours and employment agency standards as well as many others.

Previously, calls regarding working rights were taken by five separate Government bodies. Workers can now report abuses of these rights to one point of contact that can address multiple complaints.

The launch of the single helpline comes as a new poll showed that nearly half of people (48 per cent) wrongly thought employment agencies can charge workers a fee for finding them a job.

The helpline is based in the UK and staffed by specialist, trained advisors able to offer help and advice. Information is then passed to the relevant enforcement body to take further action where appropriate.