Victims campaigners have welcomed plans to outlaw gagging orders which prevent employees from disclosing sexual abuse at the hands of their bosses.

The plans, which will be introduced as part of the domestic abuse bill, will stop companies from drawing up agreements that bar workers from going to the police.

It is estimated that thousands of workers, who have been subjected to harassment, bullying and abuse, have been successfully silenced after being persuaded to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDA), in return for a pay off.

The gagging orders often threaten the victim with financial penalties if they go to the police to make a criminal complaint.

But a year after the launch of the #MeToo movement - which helped shine a light on the problem of sexual abuse in the workplace - the Government has pledged to ban NDAs.

Harry Fletcher, victims rights campaigner said it was important the new laws were wide ranging in order to cover all forms of workplace abuse.

He said: "This is welcome but the the government needs to be more explicit and explain what category of offences this covers.

“It is important that anyone who is the victim of sexual, physical or psychological abuse cannot be bought off by an employer and can have the confidence to come forward and report the abuse.