The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has opened a public consultation process as part of the government’s Red Tape Challenge.

The authority is seeking views and opinions about streamlining GLA licensing processes to release resources to protect workers from exploitation more effectively.

New chief executive Paul Broadbent, in post just a month, said he welcomes an early opportunity to hear views on how people think the GLA could improve.

“The Red Tape Challenge and this subsequent consultation has provided a timely opportunity to take a fresh look at how we work,” he said. “We want to hear how people think we can work smarter, improve the way we operate and remove unnecessary restrictions we place on businesses.”

The ultimate goal is not just protect vulnerable workers effectively, but also to prevent their future exploitation and prosecute those who flout the law.

The GLA is looking to identify the areas that could be streamlined and therefore wants input from workers, labour providers, labour users and others operating in the sectors it controls; namely the production, packing and processing of horticulture, agriculture and shellfish.

The Red Tape Challenge’s review of the GLA recommended reducing the burden of inspections and fees on established, compliant businesses, while focussing more closely on the gross abuse of workers.

It also recommended an increased commitment to tackling any unscrupulous gangmasters committing crimes including tax evasion, trafficking, health and safety negligence and other serious crimes.

Broadbent added: “We must remove all unnecessary restrictions on labour providers and prioritise those cases that present the greatest potential harm to workers, and the most serious breaches of UK legislation.”

The consultation document identifies potential areas for change for labour providers seeking GLA licences. Views are being sought, specifically on the application and inspection process; earned recognition whereby compliant licence-holders would benefit from periods of non-inspection; the licence renewal process; and active checks on licence holders and the public register.

The consultation document is available to download from the GLA website. All responses must be returned by 22 March.