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Firms undercutting British workers’ wages by offering jobs abroad and not at home would be fined thousands of pounds by Labour .

The party is vowing a clampdown on the ­practice as part of a 20-point plan to boost the economy if it wins the June 8 general election .

Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said the divisive ads can lead to foreigners being recruited on less than British colleagues, Sunday People reports.

This and the use of job agencies to further push down wages take advantage not only of staff from abroad but also UK workers, she said.

(Image: PA)

Ms Long-Bailey said Brits should also have the chance to fill job vacancies.

She said: “It’s not just immigrant workers who are exploited – it’s working Brits as well. This isn’t a new thing.”

Her former dock worker dad, who moved to a factory, saw many friends lose their jobs and an influx of agency staff on lower wages.

She said: “It caused an untold amount of stress on the workers there. And then the agency people were facing insecurity.”

Labour believes large fines for firms flouting the job advert ruling would both punish and deter the culprits, especially if the penalties carried on until the practice was stopped.

Ms Long-Bailey said: “Whatever the ­nationality of the person who is being paid less money it is exploitation. It’s exploitation of the people on that wage and of the rest of the workforce.

(Image: Phil Richards)

She claimed research showed companies are taking advantage of EU rules over foreign agency staff and some are paid three or four times less than the average worker.

“If they work in the UK on a short-term ­contract they’re only allowed to be paid the minimum wage. Some people have set up sham agencies, recruited large numbers of foreign workers and brought them into the UK.

“They’ve then paid them far less than people who were living here. That’s caused massive social problems. We’ll end undercutting because it’s not fair to anyone.” Ms Long-Bailey believes the Tory government has failed to guarantee workers’ rights and Labour plans would create a better environment for all.

She said: “In the last few years with this ­government has got progressively worse. ­Low pay and insecurity have mushroomed.”

The Labour job advert proposal is seen as part of a bigger move to create a more stable and secure environment for workers and businesses which, according to a TUC study, encourages more high-skilled jobs, investment in technology and increased productivity.

Ms Long-Bailey said where there is a low-paid workforce and wages being undercut there is a race to the bottom. And although productivity levels is a huge issue for the economy the Government had done nothing to tackle it.

Ms Long-Bailey remarked: “The last seven years has been like Margaret Thatcher turbocharged. I don’t ­believe Theresa May one bit when she says she’s going to protect workers rights in one breath and then threaten to turn us into a deregulated tax haven the next.”

She said Labour had always been good for business and would do more to help employees and employers than the Tories.

She added: “Security at work increases ­productivity. Business gets a bad name in terms of zero-hour contracts but most employers want secure and stable workforce who are going to turn up on time.

“If productivity is increased they’re more than happy to pay high wages because the firm is doing well. The Government needs to support those business so they can grow, which this government isn’t. Then there’ll be an ­opportunity for them to treat workers well.”

Ms Long-Bailey believes Labour’s approach to business will be a key selling point at the polls on June 8 and the party is more in touch with ­ordinary voters the Tories.

She said Mrs May’s was the party of the privileged few and “no amount of standing on the steps of Downing Street pretending she speaks for people will convince people it’s true.

“She’s cut benefits for the most vulnerable, pushed people to the edge of destitution with the Bedroom Tax and allowed tax breaks for the super-wealthy.

“She’s turned a blind eye to tax avoidance. They’re quite happy for big firms to pay what they want while everyone else is struggling and doing the right thing.”