The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has issued a response to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) on its supermarket protocol, warning its focus should be on labour providers rather than users.

A better understanding of the views of labour users/supermarket suppliers is needed before the authority develops its protocol further, according to the consortium.

In its response, the FPC said the GLA should apply the powers provided within its remit rather than depend upon commercial relationships between retailers and suppliers. FCP ceo Nigel Jenney said: “As an agency of DEFRA, we do not belive that the GLA should be seeking to use the retailers to take decisive action against a labour user. The performance of the GLA to date confirms that current legislation allows the GLA to work effectively to combat labour abuse. In the rare event that a retailer takes such action, it is likely to be challenged by the labour user, resulting in potential legal action involving both the retailer and the GLA… On this basis it would be advisable for the GLA to focus within its legislative framework on targeting labour providers to ensure that the industry has a sufficient pool of registered professional labour providers.”

The FPC is concerned that without broad support across the fresh produce industry, the development of the GLA protocol could fail. It is now seeking a second draft that should be subject to further consultation and agreement with labour users prior to implementation. Jenney said: “Unless the protocol works fairly for all parties involved in the supply chain, it should be rejected.”

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