ETI supermarket members call on government to pilot mandatory licensing of car washes

Members and supporters of the Responsible Car Wash Scheme, which includes ETI  members Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Tesco, are seeking Home Office endorsement for a pilot of the mandatory licensing of car washes.

The hand car wash industry is consistently highlighted by government, media and enforcement agencies as an area where workers are vulnerable to exploitation and poor working conditions and where environmental laws are disregarded.

In October 2018, the Responsible Car Wash Scheme (RCWS) was launched to improve standards in the hand car wash and valeting industry. Under the RCWS, sites were audited against the RCWS Code of Practice. Local pilots of the RCWS have demonstrated the effectiveness of the standard in identifying non-conformances and driving improvement. However, to date, voluntary schemes have not gained the desired traction within the broader car wash industry.

ETI members Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco want to ensure a level playing-field everywhere for responsible car wash operations and strongly support this proposal.

In early 2020, the Interim Director of Labour Market Enforcement called for the mandatory licensing of hand car washes, stating that non-compliance within the sector was endemic.

Overseen by the GLAA and implemented at a Borough Council level, the RCWS and its members are seeking Home Office endorsement to pilot the DLME‘s recommendation whilst building on the success of the RCWS.

The pilot will also provide valuable insight into the implications for a Single Enforcement Body with overall responsibility for labour market enforcement.

ETI members Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco want to ensure a level playing-field everywhere for responsible car wash operations and strongly support this proposal.