Unfair dismissals rise as recession bites

WORKERS are increasingly becoming victims of unfair dismissal, Barking and Dagenham Citizens Advice Bureau warns. Women have been badly hit, with soaring numbers of pregnancy dismissal cases and eastern Europeans seeking help after being fired from jobs o

WORKERS are increasingly becoming victims of unfair dismissal, Barking and Dagenham Citizens Advice Bureau warns.

Women have been badly hit, with soaring numbers of pregnancy dismissal cases and eastern Europeans seeking help after being fired from jobs on the underground economy or black market.

More staff are also being sacked for failing to perform to the required standard, before they reach a year's employment, after which they can launch a claim for unfair dismissal.

The bureau added employers tended to delay grievance procedures and unions reportedly offered little or no job discrimination support, as the country looks like sliding deeper into recession.

The findings came as the bureau dealt with its 100th discrimination case since May, with a surge coinciding with the economic downturn.

Barking and Dagenham CAB director Chris Evans, 46, told the Recorder: "There's been an increase in the number of people recently who have been made redundant for what appears to be questionable reasons."

The CAB said it was more difficult to help the EU and non-EU female workers from eastern Europe sacked from black market jobs because they are not issued with P45s.

Mr Evans added companies and unions fail to deal with grievance procedures and discrimination because of a lack of specialist knowledge, and potential conflicts of interest.

Barking and Dagenham CAB offers free legal advice on discrimination from 2pm-4pm, Monday to Thursday.

Discrimination and advice worker Antonella Fiori said: "We want to do as much as we can to raise awareness of these rights and ensure everyone who can, does benefit from them."

For more information, call 020 8517 0996 or go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk.