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Labour would make use of migrant labour to undercut wages illegal

A Labour government would make it a criminal offence to undercut wages with migrant labour, party leader Ed Miliband will announce later today.

In a Q&A session in Great Yarmouth, Miliband will announce the plans as a way to address "the real impact immigration has had".

"We will respond to those concerns, not dismiss them. That is why I have changed Labour’s approach since 2010," Miliband is expected to say.

"People want there to be control of immigration. That means being tough on illegal immigration, with proper entry and exit checks. But control doesn’t stop at the border, it is also about fair rules when people get here."

To secure a prosecution, proof would be required that employers have abused their power and employed a migrant worker on significantly different terms to that of a local worker.

Miliband will say that this will be a way to protect both the wages of local workers and the rights of those coming from overseas.

"We have all heard the most truly shocking stories of people having their wages stolen, and having to live in the most appalling conditions, exploited because they come here from abroad," he is expected to say.

"These practices have an effect on local workers too. Because when people can be exploited for low wages or endangered at work, it drags the whole system down, undercutting the pay and conditions of people here."