Cleaners, activists and some members of the civil service gathered outside HMRC's London HQ last week with placards and had “Don’t wash your hands off us, Lin Homer” written on their palms.
HMRC raised the wages of its cleaners in 100 Parliament Street, yet wages of cleaners elsewhere at Euston Tower, Custom House and Bush House remain the same (minimum wage of £6.50 an hour).
In a letter to Lin Homer, chief executive of HMRC, the Whitehall cleaners argue that although they are subcontracted through a cleaning company, it is ultimately the responsibility of the government department to ensure a just wage.
The cleaners state in the letter sent in July, as per the Guardian:
"We work hard to keep the offices clean, but we are paid less than it costs to live. Due to our low pay many of us have two or even three jobs to make ends meet, working long hours, leaving the house at 4.30am and not returning until past 9pm.”In an email seen by the Guardian, Lin Homer refused to meet with the cleaners and last month replied:
"I understand your concerns about wage levels and the cost of living but these are matters for employees and employers. HMRC is not the employer so I do not believe that a meeting would have any impact on the issue at this point. You are employed by an external contractor so any concerns you have about your terms and conditions is better dealt with by them.”She is technically correct. However, the real issue is the fact that HMRC is outsourcing some/many of its functions.
The question therefore is are these outsourced functions being performed as well/better/securely (and at no greater cost) than when they were done in house?
Tax does have to be taxing.
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Typical reaction from Homer, but not surprised as she has washed her hands of any legal or moral obligation when it comes from her own staff that are directly employed by HMRC / The Government.
ReplyDeleteTeflon may be a non-stick coating but it is potentially lethal as a result of noxious fumes issued when overheated.
ReplyDeleteThere's been a tad of that emanating from various official sources quoted on here lately, perhaps should revert to copper bottoms?
But we should not be surprised at the ducking and diving evidenced on here by HMRC
managers.
wrt outsourcing costs and any potential improvements, it is a long established fact that outsourcing improves everything, only if you don't include everything in the comparisons, the huge increase in IT support costs is but one example.
A scrutiny of recently published expenditure by the department gives a clear indication of other outsourcing or buying in costings, not for the faint hearted.
My building is a tip, I don't think the cleaners do anything but vacuum. Can't even afford to have broken furniture removed, it's just lying all over the place.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't HMRC monitor and investigate companies who do not pay the National Minimum rate and impose large penalties?
ReplyDeletelook at 210 october 2014 13.07 .
Deletewhy is the HMRC outsourcing to companies they KNOW are breaking the law?
ReplyDeletecan WE have an answer from Lin Homer via the freedom of information act?