Two companies will not be considered for government direct orders and public tenders after they were found to have broken the law against precarious employment, the government said yesterday.

The companies are Gafasaveways Ltd and Clentec Ltd.

The ban, which also covers quotations, will be in force for two years.

The Labour Party had made the fight against precarious working conditions one of its major pre-electoral pledges.

The latest decision was the result of regulations that came into force within the first month of the new legislature, the government said.

About 40 employees of the utility billing agency ARMS have been given better conditions

The regulations allow for regular inspections to take place on companies that have won contracts to provide services to the government.

Another measure that has been put in place is the non-renewal of contracts won by companies with precarious conditions of work.

About 40 employees of the government utility billing agency ARMS have also been given better conditions and a decent pay.

The government said it would soon implement a plan to bring about a big change that would affect a wide section of workers.

It did not want to leave the window ajar to abuse and would keep its promise to deal a serious blow to precarious work, it said.