Thanet Earth has been “exonerated” after a detailed investigation into labour practices at the Kentish glasshouse development.
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) found that there was “no case to answer” after a four-month investigation into the salad-growing complex.
The Unite union had made claims since early 2010 that its labour providers provided too “casualised” work with either long hours or no work available.
Earlier this year, Thanet Earth referred the matter to the GLA to gain an impartial response.
The GLA conducted more than 70 interviews with past and present workers and, although its findings remain confidential, Thanet Earth Marketing said it had been “completely exonerated” and that allegations of worker abuse were “completely unfounded”.
Unite had also accused the Fresca Group company of failing to allow workers freedom to join unions. Thanet Earth said workers had never been refused the right to join a union.
It added: “We remind those querying our claims of providing employment for 500 people locally that our site is currently less than 50 per cent constructed and we are confident of reaching and possibly exceeding that.”
But Mick Duncan, Unite’s senior regional organiser for the South East, told FPJ that at least one of the supplying labour agencies failed to have adequate grievance and disciplinary procedures in place. He said Unite continues to plan a campaign against the fresh produce trade but it may happen later in the year when it has the resources to target several companies at once.
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