The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
[ch 2: pages 26-27]The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) was set up in the wake of the 2004 Morecambe Bay tragedy, in which 23 Chinese cockle pickers drowned. It operates a licensing scheme to regulate “gangmasters” — companies or individuals providing temporary workers in the agriculture, horticulture and shellfish gathering sectors (and associated processing and packaging activities). It checks that licensed gangmasters are properly paying wages, tax and holiday pay and providing decent transport, accommodation and any necessary safety equipment. It also investigates reports of unlicensed gangmasters in the UK fresh-produce sector.
Renamed the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) from May 2017, it now has powers to investigate and tackle exploitation across the economy, including construction, care homes and hospitality, and to investigate cases of forced labour and human trafficking previously passed to the police. However, its licensing scheme was not extended beyond the sectors licensed by the GLA.