The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has conducted unannounced compliance inspections in rural Lincolnshire. It is an attempt to check on agency workers’ welfare and tackle any potential unlicensed activity.
GLAA officers visited three labour providers and seven labour users in the South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey areas, last Wednesday and Thursday. Lincolnshire and the east of England more widely is a key region for the GLAA due to its high levels of agricultural, food processing and packaging work, all of which requires licensed labour providers.
The GLAA is responsible for inspecting businesses that are licensed and investigating those operating without a licence or where there are allegations of worker exploitation.
Gla.gov.uk explains that, if anyone is found to be operating as a gangmaster without a licence, the GLAA will take enforcement action. The penalty for acting as an unlicensed gangmaster can be as high as 10 years in prison and an unlimited fine.