Building firms involved in blacklisting workers to be barred from Welsh public sector contracts

Public sector bodies in Wales will be able to exclude companies known to have put workers on a blacklist from bidding for contracts

PA Jane Hutt
Not acceptable: Jane Hutt

Building firms involved in blacklisting workers will be barred from £4.3billion worth of public sector contracts.

Unions described the move by the Welsh Assembly as a “game-changer”.

Jane Hutt, Finance Minister, said: “Under no circumstances is it acceptable for any business in receipt of public procurement expenditure to use blacklists.”

A database was found with more than 3,000 names. It is suspected they were listed for union activism or raising health and safety issues.

An Assembly spokesman said it would be considered on a “case by case” basis.

Firms that had blacklisted but no longer did and had issued a public statement would be allowed to tender.

GMB national officer Justin Bowden said: "This fantastic announcement by the Welsh Government is a game-changer.


"The next stage is to see this rolled out by national and local government across the UK and blacklist the blacklisters from the public contracts they crave."

Steve Murphy, general secretary of the building workers union Ucatt, said: "This is a massive step forward in the campaign for justice for blacklisted workers.

"The construction companies involved in blacklisting must understand this issue won't go away until they pay compensation to the workers they blacklisted."

Unite Wales Secretary Andy Richards said: "The Welsh Government's action is to be commended.

"We urge other governments across the UK to follow suit in bringing in tougher laws to call time on blacklisting everywhere."


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