Tesco has released its recruitment charter for its new Dagenham distribution centre, following claims the company employed foreign workers because they were cheaper than local ones.
In a leaked speech, shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant had said Tesco was employing a large percentage workers from the eastern bloc countries at its new Dagenham depot because they were cheaper than local ones.
The claims were removed from his modified speech, made on Monday, after the supermarket chain insisted it had recruited 350 workers from the local area, but he said the supermarket needed to provide more assurances about recruitment practices.
Tesco have since released its recruitment charter for the Dagenham centre.
Among its “pledges” are: “We pledge to engage with the local people in the surrounding area of the Dagenham DC [distribution] centre] and ensure that they are given the opportunity to work in the new site.”
And: “Staffline [Tesco’s recruitment agency] will not recruit outside of the UK for the Dagenham DC until such time that the quality or quantity of local labour has been exhausted and only following agreement with the Tesco Dagenham DC site team.”
Tesco closed a distribution centre in Harlow, Essex shortly before the Dagenham depot opened and transferred around 120 staff.
To read the full charter click here.
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