Bovis denies subbie abuse at Holyrood

Bovis has found "no evidence" to support UCATT claims that trade contractors' workers' rights are being abused on the £375m Holyrood project.

During a site visit last Thursday, UCATT's Scottish regional secretary Alan Ritchie claimed there were "numerous breaches" of the Working Rule Agreement.

These include many of the project's 800 workers being forced to work 11-hour days with no overtime pay and being made to pay £70 for health and safety induction courses.

Foreign workers' pay has also allegedly been deducted for flights and accommodation without their consent.

Labour agencies RCS and Search also faced strong criticisms from Ritchie for charging workers for helmets and boots.

Bovis strongly denies all of UCATT's claims and said that all induction courses were free to workers.

"We take these allegations very seriously," said a Bovis spokesman. "We have been carrying out a series of investigations and so far there is no foundation to the claims."