The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has warned that it would take early action against any food processor using unlicensed labour now that the deadline for new rules governing the use of casual labour had passed.
On December 1 it became illegal for anybody in the food processing and farming sectors to use labour from an unlicensed provider. Anybody doing so now faces up to six months in prison and/or a £5,000 fine.
The GLA licensing scheme has already made it an offence for a labour provider to be unlicensed, but now the law extends to cover the labour user, explained Mike Wilson, chief executive of the GLA.
“We have already started [to look at the labour user]. A number of investigations have been opened and information and evidence is being gathered with the expectation of early action,” he said.
David Mellor, socially responsible sourcing manager for Sainsbury, welcomed the new law: “The creation of the GLA was a significant milestone for the food industry, which is heavily reliant on a flexible workforce. The GLA is an important ally in helping to ensure that we manage our supply chains responsibly and afford workers the protection they deserve.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published guidance that sets out the steps a labour user can take to ensure a labour provider is licensed and help establish a defence in court.
The guidance can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/gangmasters/pdf/labourusers.pdf
A list of licensed labour providers is also available on the GLA website http://www.gla.gov.uk