USDAW, the union representing the majority of Britain’s retail workers has expressed serious concerns at the proposed creation of a National Staff Dismissal Register, if the plan goes ahead employers will be able to use the online register to search the details of individuals who have left or been dismissed from their jobs for a range of acts including theft and damage, regardless of whether or not they were later prosecuted for any wrongdoing.

The union’s main concern is that people who have left their jobs on such grounds, might, where no further investigation has been undertaken by their former employer or there is a suspicion any accusations against them may be false, may be put at a disadvantage when looking for work in future.

USDAW General Secretary John Hanett said on Monday: ‘Employers can already use CRB checks to ensure they are making safe appointments. To blacklist those individuals where there has been insufficient evidence to prosecute is grossly unfair.’

The system would, he said, be ‘open to abuse with a limited right of appeal against the false recording of information.’

He concluded: ‘We will be raising our concerns with the government and supporting any of our members who are victimised in this way.’