GLA's remit could be extended

27 NOVEMBER 2015 | BY SARAH MARQUET

FROM NOVEMBER 2015’s RECRUITER MAGAZINE

27 NOVEMBER 2015 | BY SARAH MARQUET

FROM NOVEMBER 2015’s RECRUITER MAGAZINE

Government has begun consulting on a proposed extension to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority’s (GLA) remit that could allow it to investigate exploitation in all sectors.
 
The consultation seeks views on four key proposals:
● to establish a statutory Director of Labour Market Enforcement, who will set priorities for the enforcement bodies across the spectrum of non-compliance, from criminally-minded exploitation to payroll errors
● to create a new offence of aggravated breach of labour market legislation
● to increase intelligence and data sharing between the existing enforcement bodies and other bodies to strengthen the targeting of enforcement
● to widen the remit, strengthen the powers and change the name of the GLA to enable it to tackle serious exploitation

Sectors currently requiring GLA licences and regulation include agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering, and fresh food processing and packaging. The consultation asks whether risks presented in these sectors still justify the licensing of businesses there. An extension of the GLA’s remit does not mean licensing would be extended to other sectors.

During a recent webchat, GLA chief executive Paul Broadbent said other sectors at risk of labour exploitation included construction, care homes, car washes, catering and cleaning.
 
Trained GLA staff could also be given police-style powers to use search warrants to secure crucial evidence, under the government proposals.

Consultation, via the government’s website, closes 9 November.
Headshot Frances Lewis

Business Advice: Will Labour ban zero-hours contracts?

In an interview in February, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angel

Legal, HR 4 March 2024

Critical issues in digital hiring

The Digital Right to Work scheme continues to embed itself into the recruiting landscape since it

EXPERT OPINION: The AWR is likely to go

Liz Truss has just won the Tory leadership race on an avowedly right-wing platform.

HR 8 September 2022

Sponsored: How IR35 Change is to Impact UK Businesses and How Staffing Firms Can Address their Concerns

‘Inside IR35’ contract means you are an employee in the eyes of HMRC and must pay income tax and

25 March 2021
Top