GANGMASTER LEGISLATION NEEDS URGENT REVIEW

1.49.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Aug 2007

Following the news that a Redruth company has had its Gangmasters Licence revoked, local MP, Julia Goldsworthy, has called for a review of the legislation covering the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GmLA).

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has cracked down on Baltic Work Team Ltd after apparently finding that workers were going unpaid for a month and being threatened with deportation.

Concerns have now been raised that gangmasters who cannot get licenses are now forwarding workers into the hotel and care industries, which are not subject to investigations by the GmLA. Current legislation only allows the GmLA to revoke licenses if investigations of malpractice and exploitation are found in sectors that are concerned with agriculture and food processing. In an increasingly diverse economy, and fragmented workforce, Ms Goldsworthy is arguing that this legislation is now out of date and needs to be urgently reviewed.

Ms Goldsworthy has now written to the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise arguing that there is a clear need for the GmLA to be granted powers to investigate a broader range of employment sectors.

Commenting, Ms Goldsworthy said:

"These allegations of malpractice are extremely shocking. The reports are truly horrific and risk undermining the good work that has been done to welcome migrant workers to the area. I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the GmLA to discuss the future welfare of the workers involved and to discuss the wider issue of gangmasters in the county.

"I have also written to the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise urging him to review the current legislation which means that the GmLA is unable to investigate allegations of malpractice in other employment sectors.

"Increasingly, gangmasters are placing workers outside of the traditional agricultural and food processing industries. There is now a clear and urgent need for the GmLA to possess more powers, allowing it to investigate practices in a wider range of employment sectors."

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