A CONSTRUCTION recruitment consultancy in Bolton has launched a system to prevent any fraudulent timesheets a problem thought to cost the industry up to £80 million a year.

Bromak, based in Churchgate, Bolton, is set to introduce an online time sheeting system for its freelance workers.

Under the new Bromak Online Timesheet system (BOLT), the client and contractor will be issued with their own unique login and username, which will enable the contractor to electronically input their work hours.

This will then automatically be sent to the client and, once authorised, be forwarded to Bromak who will pay the wages.

Martyn Makinson, director of the company, said: "This new system works on several different levels.

"Firstly, it will be virtually fraud proof against using paper based timesheets and will also speed up the payment process, thus enabling us to ensure that our contractors get paid on time.

"It also is a major value-add for our clients who want a quick and easy way to authorise timesheets."

The construction industry has wrestled for years with the problem of fraudulently completed records, known as timesheet inflation.

Additional problems include those of "ghost workers", where timesheets are filled in for non-existent employees, and "buddy-punching", in which workers clock in and fill in timesheets for absent colleagues.

Mr Makinson added: "A recent change in the agency laws states that contractors must be paid even if their time sheet is not signed.

"For employers in the industry, this obviously brings up the concern of fraud, so if everything is done automatically all parties are protected."

Bromak, which has a turnover of £5 million, was formed three years ago.