The Scottish Government is being urged to carry out an independent pay audit on the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project after claims workers are being underpaid.

Union Ucatt has claimed employees for Portuguese sub-contractor Sosia Ltd told the organisation that joiners were being paid £7.67 an hour and labourers were receiving £6.32 per hour.

In accordance with the Construction Joint Industry Council (CIJC) agreement, the minimum rates for workers on the project are £11.61 an hour for joiners and £8.73 for labourers. Employees are also entitled to increase overtime rates if more than 39 hours are worked in a week and should receive subsistence allowances if living away from home.

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While the Forth Crossing Bridge Company has denied the claims, Ucatt said it has offered no evidence to support these assertions.

In 2015, employees downed tools at the site due to issues over failing to properly pay backdated holiday pay. In addition, a raid on the project site last month discovered seven workers from the Indian sub-continent were illegal workers.

Ucatt said it has now written to Keith Brown MSP, the Minister responsible for the project, calling for an independent pay audit to be carried out.

Steve Dillon, Regional Secretary for Scotland, said: "The Forth Crossing should be the jewel in the crown of the Scottish Government but it risks having its reputation permanently tarnished  as Scrooge bosses are being given free rein to exploit workers.

"In order to restore confidence in the project the Scottish Government needs to urgently undertake an independent pay audit into the project which doesn't just examine what workers are currently receiving but what companies have previously paid on the project."

(LM/CD)