Latest Gangmaster News

Please check here regularly for the latest news and developments on gangmaster issues.

REC member has its appeal in the Gangmaster Appeals Tribunal allowed by the Appointed Person against condition on its licence under Licensing Standard 6.6.

• Miles Recruitment Ltd successfully appeals against a condition on its gangmasters licence requiring it to provide protective boots to the workers it supplies free of charge.  HSE, GLA and REC interpret the meaning of the decision differently.  Click here to read more.

 REC Warns Employers not to Fall Foul of New Labour Laws

• Employers are being told not to turn into turkeys this festive season by using unlicensed labour providers to supply workers for their food and farming processing operations. Click here to read more.

Have you got your license? You might be acting illegally!

• Any member supplying labour into the agricultural food production sectors which has not already obtained a Gangmaster License should cease to supply into the agricultural or food processing and packaging sectors unless and until they obtain a Gangmasters License from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.

Offences under the licensing scheme, such as operating without holding a license, came into force from 1 October 2006. For further information contact the GLA on 0845 602 5020 or apply online at www.gla.gov.uk.

Have you got a Gangmaster License Inspection coming up? Are you addressing your health and safety issues properly?

• Labour Provider’s Health and Safety procedures, click here for details of Labour Provider’s Health and Safety procedures.

Supplying labour into forestry? Are you licensed?

• Since 1 October 2006 it has been an offence to supply labour into agriculture, horticulture and food production without a Gangmasters License. All labour providers in this sector must now apply to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) for a license before they can supply labour into it. What has become clear since 1 October 2006 is that those providing labour into forestry appear to be unaware that they are also caught by this requirement. Those supplying labour to undertake logging activities may be supplying into machinery rings which are exempt under the Gangmasters legislation but other forestry activities such as planting, maintaining forestry plantations and felling of small trees (such as Christmas trees) are commonly organised using gangs of labour and are caught by the requirement to license. If you supply labour into forestry please ensure that you apply for the necessary license immediately if you have not already done so. For immediate advice and assistance contact the GLA at enquiries@gla.gsi.gov.uk or via telephone or online.

Gangmasters in Northern Ireland

• If you are a Northern Ireland based agency and you supply labour into agriculture, horticulture, forestry or food production you will need a Gangmasters License. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has reported that very few labour providers in Northern Ireland have applied for a license, despite the fact that it is suspected the number of labour providers supplying into the sector in the region runs into many hundreds.

The REC is therefore urging any employment agency or business in Northern Ireland supplying into this sector to check with the GLA as to whether a license is needed in their case and to make an application as necessary. It is now an offence to supply labour into the sector without a license. As of 1 December 2006 it will also become an offence for your clients to use your services if you do not have the requisite license. For immediate advice and assistance contact the GLA.