A hearing at Leeds Employment Tribunal heard how the broke the law by:
- Failing to keep adequate records
- Withholding payment of wages to drivers;·
- Failure to issue terms of employment to drivers;·
- Ignoring legislative requirements to carry out checks on drivers, such as confirming their identity or that they held the correct driving licences; and
- Supplying drivers who did not hold the required licences.
The agencies, which supplied HGV drivers to hirers in Yorkshire and the North of England and traded under various trade names which have all been dissolved while the businesses have ceased trading.
At the tribunal hearing one Director was banned from running or being concerned with the running of an employment agency or employment business for the maximum period of 10 years, while three others were banned for five years.
Lord Young, Minister responsible for Employment Relations, says: “Rogues like these give the recruitment sector a bad name so I am delighted to see the tribunal’s decision putting the brakes on their unacceptable behaviour.
“The EAS will continue to take action against unscrupulous agencies to protect workers and hirers from illegal practices. This case sends out a clear message to the industry that we will act against those agencies that break the law.
“EAS brought this case under the Employment Agencies Act 1973. The misconduct was brought to their attention by a total of 26 complainants, including drivers and hirers.”