Appointments to the new body that will regulate for the first time gangmasters who supply workers to farms, agricultural and shellfish businesses were announced today.
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), which officially becomes operational today (April 1) will develop and operate a licensing scheme, set licensing conditions and maintain a register of licensed labour providers in the agriculture, shellfish and related processing and packaging industries.
Once the licensing scheme is up and running in 2006, it will be an offence for anyone acting as a gangmaster to operate without a licence. It will also be illegal for anyone to use an unlicensed gangmaster. Offenders face up to 10 years in jail.
The GLA will be chaired by Paul Whitehouse. Michael Wilson is the chief executive. All appointments are for a three-year period.
The appointed board members are:
Association of Labour Providers - Roger Burrows, David Camp
Recruitment and Employment Confederation - Marcia Roberts
National Farmers Union - Sharon Cross, Annette Jacob
NFU Scotland - Lisa Webb
Trades Union Congress - Nick Clark, Bill Snell
Transport & General Workers Union - Chris Kaufman, Martin Smith
British Retail Consortium - Chris McCann
Fresh Produce Consortium - Nigel Jenney
Food and Drink Federation - Robert Price
Association of Chief Police Officers - Grahame Maxwell
Police Superintendents Association - Russell Hardy
Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services - Geoffrey Theobald
National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux - Jane Betts
Secretary of State for Home Affairs - Dave Roberts
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions - John Alpass
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Ray Anderson
The Commissioners of Inland Revenue and the Commissioners of Customs and Excise jointly - Andrew Lawrence
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry - Stephen Taylor
The Director General of the Health and Safety Executive - Graeme Walker
The Scottish Ministers - Derek Muir
The National Assembly for Wales - Mike Dunn
The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland - David Small
Appointments were made on the basis of nominations made by bodies indicated in the Gangmasters (Licensing Authority) Regulations 2005. In addition, Departments and agencies engaged in enforcement activities which may involve gangmasters have an ex-officio member of the Authority.
Food and Farming Minister Larry Whitty said: "The GLA will play a key role in preventing the exploitation of workers. I am very pleased that the many organisations that supported the new legislation are on board. Their broad knowledge and experience make me confident that the Authority will operate effectively, dealing with those who abuse workers or flout the law."
And Dan Rees, Director of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and Chairman of the Temporary Labour Working Group (TLWG) - an alliance representing the entire food chain, trade unions and labour providers - said: “This is a critical step towards stamping out the exploitative working practices of some temporary labour providers. To avoid a labour shortage, the entire industry from plough to plate needs to act now to ensure labour providers are prepared when licensing comes into force in 2006.”
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