Employing migrant workers
HSE has a dedicated website providing guidance for employers and migrant workers. The site aims to help protect vulnerable workers by capturing in one place the increasing amount of key guidance and essential information available.
The website has been developed to help migrant workers understand their rights and responsibilities. It also explains what employers need to do to manage the health and safety of this group of workers.
The pages for workers have been translated into several languages, and are also available in English. Advice, guidance and sources of further information and help are accessible through page navigation; links are provided to other relevant Government and non-Governmental agencies.
Working in GB from overseas[38]
Guidance from the food manufacturing industry
Employers have a legal responsibility to provide information, instruction, training and supervision in an understandable format for all workers, irrespective of their national origins, first language, or literacy.
Many workers in the food industry are unable to communicate in English and therefore rely on colleagues whose own language and translation capabilities are untested. These language barriers make training difficult, and also prevent communication of urgent concerns on the shop floor.
In 2006 Bill Callaghan, then Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, gave the keynote address at the launch of guidance produced by the food industry. This guidance is commended to all food and drink manufacturing companies.
Working safely in a multicultural food and drink industry guidance (PDF) [39]