The Association of Labour Providers (ALP) is introducing a code of practice as a means of demonstrating that its members are committed to high standards and to help prepare the ground for the statutory regime that is expected to come into operation during the course of 2005.

The Association has published a draft of its proposed code in the form of a consultation document and is inviting comments by 21 April. The code, which draws heavily on the work done by the Ethical Trading Initiative, is largely an accreditation scheme and requires that members follow legal requirements in all relevant areas.

However, the code goes beyond the law in requiring documentation of certain process and also that any subcontractors must comply with the code. The compliance regime includes initial and annual self-certification combined with external audits. It is hoped that these can be built into the audits already conducted by packhouses and supermarkets.

Explaining the rationale for the Code, Mark Boleat, chairman of the ALP, said: "There will be a statutory licensing regime but this is unlikely to come into effect until well into next year. An interim arrangement is needed to identify those labour providers committed to operating within the law. The experience with this code can also frame the detailed arrangement that will be put in place when the legislation comes into force."

A copy of the ALP's consultation document is on its website www.labourproviders.org.uk.

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