Two more gangmasters supplying labour into the fresh produce industry have lost their licences in the last week.
First, a Lincolnshire gangmaster had his licence revoked after “attempts to deceive” the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) were uncovered. The GLA said in a statament that Malcolm Plant had attempted to set up a new company in Spalding to be run by Victoria French in order to escape responsibilities and creditors for his business Maximum Recruitment Agency (MRA), which had recently suffered fire damage that destroyed company records.
“On inspection the GLA realised that the new application under a different name was a charade and that Mr Plant would be running the new business,” the statement said.
The decision was then made to refuse the new licence application and revoke the licence of MRA on the grounds that Plant was not fit and proper to hold a licence.
Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, said: “Gangmasters need to be aware that the GLA will not fall for cynical tricks and will take swift action against any gangmaster who tries to deceive us.
“If a gangmaster is prepared to lie about who will be running a business we have to question their fitness to hold a licence.”
MRA is the fourth gangmaster business to lose its licence in Spalding. Twenty licences are currently held by Spalding gangmasters.
On Monday, a Kent gangmaster, which was allowed to continue trading as long as it resolved a failed licencing condition, also lost its licence.
Chartley Personnel Limited, trading as TemPer Recruitment Services in Sittingbourne, must now stop supplying workers in the GLA regulated sectors or face prosecution.
Evidence was required to prove that the gangmaster had co-operated with the company the workers were supplied to, to ensure that working conditions at the site to which the workers were provided complied with relevant health and safety legislation.
When this was not provided despite numerous chances, the GLA had no choice but to revoke the licence, said Whitehouse. He added: “This company had a significant period of time to resolve the problem. We were set up to protect workers and if their health and safety is not taken seriously, then we have no choice but to revoke the licence.”
