Quote:Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland 'pay slave wages of less than £5 per hour for 12-hour shiftsSOURCE:
to illegal workers'
*Contractors at London Christmas fair pay staff £4.54 [$6.08] an hour, according to probe
*They hire workers illegally with only basic English tests to pass to secure jobs
*Minimum wage for over-25s is £7.50 an hour while London Living Wage is £10.20
*Winter Wonderland has vowed to investigate after claims came to light
'Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland pays its staff less than £5 an hour to work 12-hour shifts,
sometimes employing workers illegally, it has been claimed.
The Christmas fair takes on staff without the proper employment documents, security checks
or training, according to an undercover probe. Taking over London's Hyde Park for six weeks
every festive season, the attraction sees over three million visitors every year.
But behind the scenes, stallholders and other staff are being paid £300 [$401.72] for a 60-hour
week, with three hours unpaid training and cleaning factored in respectively, according to The Sun.
According to the newspaper, Manning's Organisation, one of the UK's largest carnival firms,
is paying just £4.54 an hour for people to sell food and drink at the event.
Staff are often forced to work 12-hour days, with just 15-minute breaks - or even none at all.
The national minimum wage for employees 25 and over is £7.50 an hour, while the London
Living Wage is £10.20 an hour.
It has also been claimed Winter Wonderland is hiring people illegally, with just a basic English
test to pass in order to get a job. On its website, job adverts read: 'Applicants must also be able
to work at least 35 hours per week to include some availability over weekends.
'You must be 18 or over to apply. You must be eligible to work in the UK and be willing to work
in an outdoor winter environment.' To work in any of the bars selling alcohol, six-months' experience
is required.
Adverts say the jobs pay between £9 and £12 per hour for a 35-hour week.
A former Winter Wonderland employee told The Sun: 'I was disgusted by the pay they offered for
the hours - it's slave wages.'
Winter Wonderland is run by PWR Events and The Royal Parks.
Security has been beefed up at this year's event.
Layers of steel barriers are guarding the thousands who queue at the entrance to London's Hyde Park.
Rucksacks and women's handbags are meticulously searched, with queues appearing thinner and more
orderly than last year when crowds waiting to get in were described as 'sitting ducks' for terrorists.
A spokesman for The Royal Parks told MailOnline: 'We are very concerned by the allegations that have
been made regarding one of our contractors who operate at the event.
'We contractually require all of our contractors to carry out the necessary checks and comply with all statutory
obligations and ensure staff welfare at all times.
'We take these accusations extremely seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure that
all contractors comply.' PWR Events and Manning's Organisation have been contacted for comment...'
Another reason why some wished to remain in the European Union. Just like 'Sanctuary Cities and no wall
at the border, it's all about cheap labour... it was always about keeping stagnation in earnings.
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.