Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland pays its staff less than £5 an hour to work 12-hour shifts, sometimes employing workers illegally, it has been claimed.
The Christmas fair takes on staff without the proper employment documents, security checks or training, according to an undercover probe.
Taking over London’s Hyde Park for six weeks every festive season, the attraction sees over three million visitors every year.
London’s largest Christmas fair (pictured) takes on staff without the proper employment documents, security checks or training, according to an undercover probe
But behind the scenes, stallholders and other staff are being paid £300 for a 60-hour week, with three hours unpaid training and cleaning factored in respectively, according to The Sun.
According to the newspaper, Manning’s Organisation, one of the UK’s largest carnival firms, is paying just £4.54 an hour for people to sell food and drink at the event.
Staff are often forced to work 12-hour days, with just 15-minute breaks – or even none at all.
The national minimum wage for employees 25 and over is £7.50 an hour, while the London Living Wage is £10.20 an hour.
It has also been claimed Winter Wonderland is hiring people illegally, with just a basic English test to pass in order to get a job.
On its website, job adverts read: ‘Applicants must also be able to work at least 35 hours per week to include some availability over weekends.
‘You must be 18 or over to apply. You must be eligible to work in the UK and be willing to work in an outdoor winter environment.’
To work in any of the bars selling alcohol, six-months’ experience is required.
Contractor Manning’s Organisation, one of the UK’s largest carnival firms, is paying just £4.54 an hour for people to sell food and drink at the event (pictured), according to The Sun
Adverts say the jobs pay between £9 and £12 per hour for a 35-hour week.
A former Winter Wonderland employee told The Sun: ‘I was disgusted by the pay they offered for the hours – it’s slave wages.’
Winter Wonderland is run by PWR Events and The Royal Parks.
Security has been beefed up at this year’s event.
Layers of steel barriers are guarding the thousands who queue at the entrance to London’s Hyde Park.
Rucksacks and women’s handbags are meticulously searched, with queues appearing thinner and more orderly than last year when crowds waiting to get in were described as ‘sitting ducks’ for terrorists.
A spokesman for the event told MailOnline: ‘We are very concerned by the allegations that have been made regarding one of our contractors who operate at the event.
‘We contractually require all of our contractors to carry out the necessary checks and comply with all statutory obligations and ensure staff welfare at all times.
‘We take these accusations extremely seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure that all contractors comply.’
PWR Events and Manning’s Organisation have been contacted for comment.
Crowds are pictured flooding into this year’s event. But behind the scenes, stallholders and other staff are being paid £300 for a 60-hour week, with three hours unpaid training and cleaning factored in respectively, according to The Sun