Dear Editor, Congratulations to The Argus for publishing an article on an issue that is an epidemic in this country, and affects hundreds of thousands of the lowest earning employee's, many of whom have to work 2 or 3 jobs to be able to put food on the table for their families, and keep a roof over their heads. I work across a large number of UNISON Branches, and see, on average, one case per week, of members and staff paid below the minimum wage. The biggest offenders are the private home care sector, and private adult care homes - not all of them, but most. Very few members, isolated as they are, are courageous enough to take this up and assert their legal rights. Why? Simply, many will be sacked out of hand, if they do. The sector is characterised by staff working on contracts that last less than 2 years, so until they reach that magic figure, the law provides virtually no protection - you cannot go to an employment tribunal if you have less than 2 years permanent employment. In theory, you could sue for Breach of Contract, but courts/Tribunals have decided they will not award compensation or loss in these situations. U.K. law was weak enough at the end of the Blair/Brown government, but since 2010 it has been undermined even further - it is arguably the weakest, in terms of protecting employees, in the entire E.U. Theresa May has stated that the Conservatives, post Brexit, will not reduce our rights even further - that is a direct untruth. Just last week, the Government published its 28 areas that will be exempt from E.U. control, immediately we leave the E.U. next year, even if there is a so-called "Transition Period". It include the specific example of ending our protection of the Working Time Directive, but also says there are "other areas" (not specified), where we will take back control. In the words uttered in a famous quote from the past, "Be afraid, be very afraid". And if your M.P. is a Conservative, how about emailing them and asking the question, "What are these unspecified rights you intend to abolish?". Alex Knutsen93 Roedale Road,Brighton,BN1 7GD