Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna made the pledge at the Ucatt annunal conference in Scarborough yesterday.

He said: “I give this commitment today: the next Labour Government will legislate to prevent this abuse.

“It puts the lives of workers at risk. It is irresponsible. It is wrong. We will stop it.”

Ucatt has led a long-running campaign against “phoenix”firms who try to escape punishment after site accidents.

The union wants the Health and Safety Executive to be able to freeze a company’s assets as soon as a worker is killed and until investigations into the death are concluded.

Ucatt General Secretary Steve Murphy said: “Bereaved families also deserve justice. It is bad enough for them to lose a loved one, but for the law to allow those responsible to escape justice is a grievous insult.”