Government promises investigation after undercover journalist exposes illegal trafficking of migrant workers

The government has pledged to investigate the illegal trafficking of migrant workers into the UK that was unveiled last night after a BBC investigation.

Undercover Lithuanian journalist Audrius Lelkaitis posed as a migrant worker for the BBC and found foreign workers were being lied to, paid less than the minimum wage and forced to live in squalor.

After being offered work with Hull-based Focus Staff, Lelkaitis was paid £97 for 20 hours’ work per week However, before receiving his pay, £50 was illegally deducted for accommodation in a room he shared with 11 others, leaving him with a weekly wage of just £47.

Employment relations minister Jim Fitzpatrick said he took the findings “most seriously”. A DTI spokesman confirmed that an investigation would take place.