Contractors will be challenged to prove they are not using illegal or slave workers after the Considerate Constructors Scheme issued a new checklist. A revised set of questions, which will come into force in February, will ask how sites “assess and monitor the legitimacy and competency of the workforce”. CCS chief executive Edward Hardy said the question had been prompted by growing concerns over the use of illegal workers and modern slavery in construction. In 2013, the government identified 53 “potential victims of modern slavery” in the industry. The National Crime Agency’s latest strategic assessment listed construction as the sixth most prevalent sector for labour exploitation reports. Mr Hardy said introducing the question would encourage main contractors and their supply chains to take greater responsibility for the way they recruit their workforce. “It’s a challenge for them, as currently what they do is assume all those working in the supply chain are ensuring [eligibility to work],” he told. “By asking this question, it will put a structure in place for everyone in the supply chain to provide evidence that they, as subcontractors, are making sure.” He added: “Let’s make an assumption that there are illegal workers in construction: surely we should make sure at the very least that they’re not on sites registered with us.” Mr Hardy said sites should establish a culture whereby workers feel able to highlight to management when they have concerns over colleagues. He also suggested that contractors introduce spot testing, as is currently done in relation to drug and alcohol use. The CCS leadership is due to meet Home Office officials next week. In October, the Home Office published guidance on supply chain transparency in the wake of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which became law in March. In the foreword to the guidelines, home secretary Theresa May said: “I want to support, motivate and incentivise organisations to understand the complex issue of modern slavery and how they can tackle it. It is simply not acceptable for any organisation to say, in the 21st century, that they did not know.” The updated CCS checklist will also include a question asking site managers what they are doing “to improve the overall image of the industry to attract and retain the workforce necessary for the future of construction”. Mr Hardy said the question was included as a response to fears that there will not be sufficient workers to meet the pipeline of future work. He said: “We need to dispel this myth that it’s a filthy, dirty horrible place to work, or that you’re not looked after, or it’s dangerous. Ten years ago, the reality was there were still [these] issues. But what we see now is that the vast majority of sites do look after their workforce incredibly well and far better than most would realise.” Karen Bradley, minister for preventing abuse and exploitation, said: “Modern slavery is an abhorrent form of exploitation, with ruthless criminals targeting society’s most vulnerable people for monetary gain. “Earlier this year, we brought in the Modern Slavery Act – the first act of its kind in Europe – to give protection to victims and hand down harsh penalties on offenders, who now face up to life imprisonment if they are convicted of slavery offences. “Regardless of a businesses being large or small, they can all play a role. Whether that is developing initiatives to respond to the potential threat of modern slavery, or everyone on a construction site simply looking out for a colleague or group of employees, and if they’re concerned acting immediately.”  

The mayor of London Boris Johnson has given the green light for PLP’s replacement for KPF’s half-built Pinnacle Tower. The 278m-tall proposal, which was granted planning permission by the City of London last month, will be 10m shorter than the abandoned scheme – dubbed the Helter Skelter – but will have 30 per cent more floor space. The new 62-storey building will provide 185,000m2 of office space for about 12,000 people in 100 companies. The high-rise office tower will also feature a restaurant and bar, retail space and a public viewing gallery. The design of 22 Bishopsgate is being led by Karen Cook, who co-founded PLP following her exit from KPF in the summer of 2009. Johnson, said: ”After lying abandoned for four years, 22 Bishopsgate will now get off the ground, providing much needed office space for thousands of city workers and a positive addition to the world-class architecture of the capital’s skyline. ”There will be more than 800,000 new jobs created in London over the next 20 years and there is no doubt that tall buildings that are sensitively managed, well designed and in the right place will continue to create the new office space the city needs to retain its place as one of the business capitals of the world.” Developer, Stuart Lipton of Lipton Rogers, added: “The mayor has recognised 22 Bishopsgate as a major contribution to the on-going vitality of the City of London with a distinguished and interesting building that includes a number of new innovations designed to put the health and wellness of people first and which aims to be the first building in London to adopt the new Delos WELL building standard.” The scheme is set to complete in 2019.