Builders asked to work for cash

Almost two thirds of construction companies have been asked to do a job for cash outside the tax system as they are increasingly forced to compete with black market operators.

A Construction Industry Federation survey of its members found 64% had been asked to do the work “off the books” while 95% had encountered a black economy operator in the last three months.

And 95% said they had lost out on a project to one of those operators because they were offering to do the work for a cheaper price.