Dumfries and Galloway Council are to take action to stop construction firms involved in the process of blacklisting from competing for public sector contracts.

It is understood the Council is to adopt new guidelines on the controversial issue.

In 2009, the practice of blacklisting in the construction sector was revealed. Following an investigation, files on thousands of construction workers had been compiled by a consulting company. The data included personal information such as union membership and activity, as well as whether the individual had a history of raising health and safety concerns on building sites. The information was subsequently sold to a number of construction firms who then used the data to vet job applicants.

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Rules have since been introduced to prohibit blacklisting, but did not provide local authorities with a legal basis to stop those involved in the practice from being awarded public contracts.

Dumfries and Galloway Council now plans to introduce the new guidelines, which have been developed by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Trade Union Congress. The legislation will require firms to say whether or not they have been involved in blacklisting. For those who have, they must be said to demonstrate that they are no longer involved in such a practice before they can bid for work.

There will also be an additional clause included as part of the tendering process, which will allow a contract to be terminated if a company is found to have breached the blacklisting rules.

(JP/IT)