The union said that the UK “should bring forward measures to regulate precarious and insecure work”.
But Unite warned in its evidence: “Zero and short hours contracts, short-term contracts and mutations of self-employment are increasingly becoming a feature in the UK economy.
“If left to their own devices, companies like Sports Direct and employment agencies will continue to stretch the law and engage in what we believe to be wholly exploitative work practices.”
Unite alleged that warehouse workers for Sports Direct, employed via agencies The Best Connection and Transline, are effectively “taxed” if they do not have a bank account for their wages to be paid into.
The firms charge workers a £10 one-off fee for a pre-paid debit card onto which their wages are paid, said the union, adding that workers are then charged a management fee of £10 per month and for cash withdrawals by the card issuer.
Witnesses from Transline and The Best Connection appeared before the committee. Neither were available to comment on Unite’s claims, while Sports Direct declined to comment.
