A COMPANY which employs more than 1,000 people at a Bolton call centre said it is not one of the workplaces described as a "sweatshop" in a new report.

Vertex said it has never exploited its staff at its Manchester Road branch, after the TUC claimed many similar operations leave employees stressed, ill and on poor pay.

Robert Edis, a spokesman for the call centre which deals mostly with requests from Norweb Energi and North West Water customers, said it has excellent relations with the trade union UNISON, which has always stated it is happy with working conditions at Bolton.

Mr Edis added: "We are not even concerned with this sweatshop image because it has never been an issue for Vertex.

"We are going further than that, we are looking at issues like flexible working hours, racism and the disabled."

The TUC said although many call centres carried out excellent working practises, others needed to be criticised.

The union claims its research shows some of the 400,000 people employed nationally in the new industry suffer from "acoustic shock" which leaves them with depression and other health problems.

It also said some workers were monitored over the length of time they spent going to the toilet and had wages withheld while they served probationary periods.

Meanwhile, the report pointed out the good employers who offered flexible working patterns and free childcare facilities.

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "The good call centres we highlight prove the industry can offer good working conditions and still be profitable.

"But there are still too many call centres exploiting staff."

The TUC is running a special telephone hotline for two weeks for workers at call centres to report poor working practices. The number is 0800 032 0033.