Trade union UCATT last week revealed claims that a number of migrant workers from Lithuania had been left 'virtually destitute' after they took home a wage of just £8.80 for a 40-hour week.

Union leaders discovered the workers were paid below the agreed minimum rates, were not paid overtime and were charged excessive deductions for rent, tools and utility bills after they obtained pay slips uncovering what they described as the 'appalling systematic abuse'.The workers had been employed by dry lining subcontracting company Produm, which had been subcontracted by Nunn Brook Road firm Baris.

But in a statement released on the company website, Baris said it had not contravened any UK employment laws and its workers enjoyed good employment conditions.

The statement read: "It was alleged that one of our subcontractors on this job has contravened the Working Rule Agreement relative to payments to its workers.

"A meeting was held on site on 23rd June 2008 with UCATT, Skanska and Baris and its subcontractor where the above allegation was made, but where it was accepted that Baris had not contravened the Working Rule Agreement.

"Whilst we can monitor our payments to both workers and subcontractors, in which we can categorically state that every single workers wage that is calculated and paid by us, exceeds the minimum wage and conditions, the monitoring of actual payments to sub-sub workers is particularly more difficult to do.

"We do spot checks on our sub-contractors on their payment to their own workers, but we cannot be 100 per cent sure that there is not the occasional error or perhaps in certain cases, the odd unscrupulous sub-contractor who may attempt to profit from alleged under payments to the more basic worker without our knowledge.

"The latter will not be condoned by us in any way, shape or form. We will not tolerate such actions of under paying workers.

"Baris had also given a written undertaking to both Skanska and UCATT to respond further to the allegations made against this subcontractor by 4th July 2008.

"It is therefore disappointing that the information and UCATT website article were released prior to the 4th July 2008 date agreed for this matter to be fully investigated."

A UCATT spokesman said: "We had a meeting with the relevant parties, but an agreement made was not followed through. Hopefully this issue will be resolved this week."

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