Lithuanian workers on a Skanska PFI hospital site in Mansfield took home 拢8.80 for a 40-hour week, according to construction union Ucatt.

The 12 workers, employed by drylining subcontractor Produm, were paid less than the agreed minimum wage and were charged excessive deductions for rent, tools and utility bills.

Some workers received less than 拢10 for their week鈥檚 work. Others were paid less than 拢100 for working more than 70 hours. Some are understood to be owed up to five weeks鈥� pay.

The conditions, which Ucatt described as 鈥渁ppalling systematic abuse of vulnerable migrant workers鈥�, were uncovered at the 拢265m Mansfield Hospital in Nottinghamshire, being built by Skanska.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of Ucatt, said: 鈥淲e have built up a large file of abuses of ganged workers. This is the worst we have seen, and the fact it has occurred on a PFI site, using taxpayers鈥� money, is scandalous.鈥�

A spokesperson for Skanska said: 鈥淪kanska takes such issues very seriously. Since this information was brought to our attention we have worked with Ucatt to resolve these issues.鈥�

Produm was unavailable for comment.