Indian IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services(TCS)is to be awarded a contract to support the government's Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS),according to the Public and Commercial Services Union.
The DBS has resulted from the coming together of the Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority,which prevent unsuitable people from working in certain occupations.Capita,which has supported the criminal disclosure service for years,was also shortlisted.
According to the PCS:"Capita members who work on the criminal records contract in Liverpool have been informed that the Home Office has announced its'intention to award'the DBS contract to Tata Consultancy Services(TCS).The Home Office is currently finalising discussions with TCS on the implementations plans of the five-year contract which will start in 2013."
PCS said it will be writing to Tata demanding a meeting:"At the meeting our union will be seeking written guarantees on jobs,their location(with a guarantee that they will remain in Liverpool),pay and terms and conditions."
Offshore service providers have won relatively little business in the public sector largely due to sensitivities around the personal details of citizens being processed offshore.It is also controversial for a UK government departments to award work to offshore companies that could lead to redundancies.
