Construction Workers Compensation Scheme
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| − | The [http://www.tcwcs.co.uk/ Construction Workers Compensation Scheme] ( | + | The [http://www.tcwcs.co.uk/ Construction Workers Compensation Scheme] (TCWCS) was launched on 4 July 2014 to compensate construction workers that had been ‘blacklisted’ by contractors. It is open to applicants until 30 June 2016. |
The scheme is funded by eight main contractors that used the services of The Consulting Association (TCA), which held records of more than 3,000 people (including records transferred from The Economic League). The records were intended to protect the industry from the labour issues that blighted the industry in the 1970's and 80's, but they actually resulted in workers being blacklisted without their knowledge, for unknown reasons, and with no system for review, appeal, correction or redress. This left some workers unable to find work for many years. | The scheme is funded by eight main contractors that used the services of The Consulting Association (TCA), which held records of more than 3,000 people (including records transferred from The Economic League). The records were intended to protect the industry from the labour issues that blighted the industry in the 1970's and 80's, but they actually resulted in workers being blacklisted without their knowledge, for unknown reasons, and with no system for review, appeal, correction or redress. This left some workers unable to find work for many years. | ||
Revision as of 10:45, 7 July 2014
The Construction Workers Compensation Scheme (TCWCS) was launched on 4 July 2014 to compensate construction workers that had been ‘blacklisted’ by contractors. It is open to applicants until 30 June 2016.
The scheme is funded by eight main contractors that used the services of The Consulting Association (TCA), which held records of more than 3,000 people (including records transferred from The Economic League). The records were intended to protect the industry from the labour issues that blighted the industry in the 1970's and 80's, but they actually resulted in workers being blacklisted without their knowledge, for unknown reasons, and with no system for review, appeal, correction or redress. This left some workers unable to find work for many years.
The records were seized by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in 2009 and TCA was closed down.
The compensation scheme was established by; Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK and VINCI PLC to provide an alternative to High Court action for affected workers. It applies to workers involved in the UK construction industry between 1993 and 2009 who were refused work on UK construction sites in those years.
There is a fast-track process and a full-review process depending on the level of investigation necessary for individual cases. Compensation under the fast-track process ranges from £4,000 to £20,000, while under the full-review process, compensation of up to £100,000 can be awarded. The full-review process is independently adjudicated by retired High Court judge Sir Colin MacKay. Applicants are entitled to have legal advice paid for by the scheme. This might help them decide which process is the most appropriate for their case.
The contractors that have set up the scheme have apologised for their involvement with TCA. However, union leaders have not agreed to the scheme, claiming it is a cynical PR stunt intended to derail High Court proceedings and that the proposed compensation is inadequate.
A voluntary code of conduct is being developed to ensure that the vetting of workers is more transparent in the future.
Find out more
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Construction supply chain payment charter.
- Fair payment practices.
- Intermediaries legislation.
- Payroll companies
- Scheme for construction contracts.
- Umbrella companies.
External references.
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