IOSH
IOSH offers support to new Fair Work Agency
- Date posted
- 28 April 2026
- Type
- Press release
- Author
- Marcus Boocock
- Estimated reading time
- 3 minute read
IOSH has hailed the launch of the UK’s new Fair Work Agency as a positive and timely step towards creating safer, healthier and fairer workplaces.
In letters to Chair Matthew Taylor and Chief Executive Lisa Pinney MBE, IOSH recognises the scale and complexity of the challenges facing the world of work, from labour exploitation and modern slavery to increasingly fragmented and insecure working arrangements. IOSH believes the creation of the agency represents a significant opportunity to take a more joined‑up, preventative and worker‑focused approach – one that can help tackle these issues at their root and drive lasting improvements in working conditions.
The Fair Work Agency brings together functions relating to labour market enforcement and worker protection, with a remit that includes addressing non‑compliance, tackling exploitation and poor working practices, and promoting consistency across the system. IOSH recognises the scale and complexity of these challenges, particularly where insecure work, labour exploitation and modern slavery intersect with health, safety and wellbeing risks, often across complex and opaque supply chains.
In its correspondence, IOSH underlines the close relationship between fair work and occupational safety and health, noting that evidence consistently shows that well‑designed and well‑managed work is more likely to be safe, healthy and productive. A prevention‑led approach, focused on early engagement, good management and effective systems, can help reduce harm, support compliance and create more resilient organisations.
In the letter, Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at IOSH, said: “Where work is well designed, properly managed, and proactively risk-assessed, it not only protects workers from harm but also strengthens productivity, sustainability, resilience, and organisational performance.
“We would welcome the opportunity to support you and your team as you develop and deliver the agency’s priorities. IOSH can bring insight from our global membership, practical experience across sectors, and evidence on what works in preventing harm and improving workplace outcomes.”
Read the full letter
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On behalf of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), I would like to congratulate you on establishing the Fair Work Agency. We offer our support as you and your team begin the important task of establishing the agency at a time of significant political focus and heightened expectations around labour market regulation.
This is a pivotal moment for the future of work in the UK, as organisations navigate increasingly complex challenges linked to fair employment, worker protection, and sustainable working practices. The establishment of the Agency represents a significant opportunity to strengthen standards, improve consistency of enforcement, and deliver better outcomes for both workers and responsible employers who want to do the right thing.
As you know, the scale and complexity of labour market harms remain substantial, including persistent risks such as modern slavery, labour exploitation, insecure work, and non-compliance in parts of supply chains. Addressing these issues effectively requires not only robust enforcement, but also strong prevention, intelligence sharing, and a joined-up approach across regulatory and professional bodies.
IOSH strongly supports the ambition behind your organisation. As a global body for occupational safety and health professionals, with a substantial UK-based membership, we see first-hand how fair work practices and effective health and safety principles and management are intrinsically linked. Where work is well designed, properly managed, and proactively risk-assessed, it not only protects workers from harm but also strengthens productivity, sustainability, resilience, and organisational performance.
We would welcome the opportunity to support you and your team as you develop and deliver the agency’s priorities. IOSH can bring insight from our global membership, practical experience across sectors, and evidence on what works in preventing harm and improving workplace outcomes.
We look forward to working with you and your team as the agency takes shape and to supporting its important work, in the months and years ahead.
The right to safe, healthy work
Learn about how recognising safe and healthy work as a fundamental principle and right can strengthen policy, accountability and global standards.
Last updated: 08 May 2026
Marcus Boocock
- Job role
- Senior External Affairs Manager
- Company
- IOSH
