Crooked employment agencies are exploiting vulnerable workers by illegally charging them to find work, an undercover inquiry by the TUC has revealed.

The investigation found some agencies were breaking the law by asking migrant workers to pay up to £100 for temporary jobs.

The TUC warns new regulations for agency workers being brought in by the Government today will do little to stop the practice.

It has called for tougher control of the industry, including withdrawing the UK from the block on the EU Directive to provide equal pay and rights for agency workers and providing protection for whistleblowers.

Tuesday April 06, 2004