Gangmaster inspection reports revealed
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has abandoned its policy of keeping its inspection reports secret following a complaint by the 91Èȱ¬ to the Information Commissioner.
The protects the welfare of workers in industries such as agriculture and food processing by monitoring labour providing companies. It was set up the death of 23 cockle-pickers at Morecambe Bay in 2004.
When the 91Èȱ¬ asked last year for copies of its reports on individual firms, the GLA refused on the grounds that it would hamper its ability to carry out its duties and could damage its relationship with the companies it oversees. The 91Èȱ¬ then complained to the Commissioner, and the GLA has now overturned its stance without the Commissioner needing to issue a formal decision.
The 91Èȱ¬ has now obtained copies of inspection reports which detail how the GLA has found some companies failing to meet minimum standards.
A company called Jark Recruitment based in Dereham, Norfolk was found by the GLA earlier this year to be 'systematically failing' to ensure workers received their full holiday pay. The report says there is evidence that at least 37 workers did not receive what they were entitled to on leaving Jark.
The GLA inspection also found that the company was charging workers too much for accommodation and threatening some of them that they would lose their accommodation immediately if they left their job. It also could not provide gas safety certificates for some properties used to house workers.
Jark has so far failed to provide the 91Èȱ¬ with its response to these criticisms. However the GLA says that it is now licensed as Jark Industrial, having 'successfully reapplied after correcting the non-compliances which led to the licence revocation'.
In April the GLA revoked the licence of a company called Gurkha's UK, based in Sevenoaks, Kent, which had failed to provide holiday or sick pay and had employed workers for excessive hours. The firm's spokesman told the 91Èȱ¬: 'We need to improve so I'm seeking advice and may reapply for a license in the future.'
An Ipswich-based firm Gateway Recruitment Solutions was found to be failing to provide its workforce (which included Lithuanian, Bulgarian and Nepalese labourers) with the required overtime pay, holiday and sick pay entitlements, and was deducting too much for accommodation. Gateway's licence was revoked, but it has since successfully reapplied for another licence from the GLA. The company said: 'We have taken their suggestions on board and have worked to make everything right.'
UPDATE: Jark has now got in touch. The company says: 'We will continue to work closely with the GLA and remain wholly supportive of its aim to safeguard the interests of workers.'
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