13 February 2013

The Welsh government may introduce new laws to prevent blacklisting in the near future following the efforts of an Assembly Member (AM) and a union officer to take proposals to the Welsh Assembly.

According to the Morning Star, the anti-blacklisting rules could come in as soon as next year and such an action could have a knock-on effect on the rest of the UK.

"I don't think anyone should or could be foolish enough to believe that it is only the Consulting Association that operated a formal blacklist," Cardiff South and Penarf AM Vaughan Gething told the news provider.

"The reality is that like with many forms of discrimination, proving it is difficult, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have a law that makes it clear and ensures there's a penalty for conducting this form of activity," he added, saying that doing so "would then make it difficult for other parts of the UK to continue resisting".

Gething has been working closely with GMB Wales officer Mike Payne to propose new public procurement regulations to stop companies that blacklist workers from receiving contracts for public works. This is similar to the action taken recently by Hull Council to 'blacklist the blacklisters' by refusing to hire firms that have blacklisted employees.

"This will allow the Welsh government to allow contracts to companies who are going to play by the rules," Payne stated.

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