Action against rogue gangmasters soars
Action against rogue gangmasters soars
The number of gangmasters whose licences have been revoked has soared. Figures released this week by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) reveal 22 gangmasters have had their licences revoked in just over the first quarter of the 2008 financial year. GLA says the revocations send a resounding message to those who abuse their power and their workers - there is no hiding place, the GLA will find you. It says the leap in revocations coincides with GLA's hard-hitting Operation Ajax which was launched by the authority in April to stamp down on worker exploitation and abuse. From April to mid-August 2008, 22 gangmasters' licences were revoked. This compared to 33 in the 2007 financial year, and 15 in 2006. GLA chair Paul Whitehouse said: 'These figures show we meant what we said when we launched Operation Ajax to clamp down on those who are abusing the system and their workers. And make no mistake, we will continue this fight. We will not let up on those who think they can make money out of abusing the system and the lives of vulnerable workers.' There are 1,186 GLA licences are held by UK labour providers. Since the authority became operational in 2006, there have been 70 revocations and 42 licence refusals. Unions have pressed for GLA coverage to be extended to other sectors, including construction and care homes. GLA chair Paul Whitehouse has said the watchdog would be 'willing and ready to accept the challenge of reducing exploitation elsewhere' (Risks 356).
GLA news release [pdf].
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