Legal loopholes have resulted in employment practices becoming commonplace in the modern workplace that were once attacked as exploitative in the 19th century, according to the first report from the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment. It found problems were particularly acute among those who worked in care homes, cleaning, hotels and restaurants, hairdressing and beauty, construction and security.

I gave evidence to this Commission when they visited Wales. Key concerns for us were around migrant workers being exploited, and also vulnerable workers who end up in low-paid and low-skilled jobs (especially shift working, temps or on contract paying according to hours and not to days worked), having no idea at all about their rights, and being too afraid to challenge unfair treatment for fear of being dismissed when they already had to live hand to mouth.

'While this commission expected to find poor treatment, its extent has stunned us all,' said Brendan Barber, the TUC leader. 'Worst of all, much of it took place within a legal framework that fails to prevent exploitation. Much exploitative treatment occurs because the law is not strong enough to prevent mistreatment, with employers using gaps in employment protection to treat staff badly.'

That's right, despite our various bits of legislation that are meant to be protecting people at work, exploitation and astonishingly poor terms and conditions are often entirely legal in the UK.

The report, 'Hard Work, Hidden Lives', has now been published (apparently, but I can't find it), highlighting the plight of those 2 million workers trapped between the dole queue and dead-end jobs. As the Sunday Mirror tells us:

Extracts from a report ... reveal that disabled people, ethnic minorities, immigrants and young people are among workers mistreated by ruthless bosses who exploit loopholes in the law.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "The report shows that we have a hidden workforce of people who work in conditions that should have no place in a civilised society. It's a disgrace."

It's a disgrace. An outrage. And who cares?

It reveals, said Barber, a hidden Britain where those providing the services on which society and the economy rely are trapped in a cycle of poverty and injustice.

As long as the economy keeps on running, we won't be lifting these people out of poverty, because obviously things are working just fine. And if the economy goes spiralling downwards (ie Europe is Doomed), then we'll just have to force these very same people to cut back further.

As Jerome says,

You see, Europeans, poor things, still don't understand that in order to increase living standards, you have to decrease them.