The Gangmasters Licensing Authority expects to find out which new sectors could come under its remit as early as next spring.

Speaking at the Gangmasters Licensing Authority National Conference in Derby on Tuesday [8 March], GLA chair Margaret Beels told delegates she expects the proposed director of labour market enforcement to have their first annual strategy in place, including recommendations on the possible extension of the GLA’s remit, by next April.

Beels explained the new director’s strategy would be based on their collection of information and intelligence from labour market enforcement bodies on where lies the greatest risk of serious labour exploitation.

Asked which sectors the GLA would recommend the director investigate if they were appointed tomorrow, Beels pointed to cleaning, catering, warehousing, car washing, housing renovation and care homes.

Sectors currently requiring GLA licences and regulation include agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and fresh food processing and packaging. 

The appointment of the new director, as well as the GLA’s renaming and any future wider remit, is subject to the passage of the Immigration Bill 2015-16 through Parliament this spring.

On the proposed alteration of the GLA’s name to the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority, Beels said it was testament to the Authority’s “high reputation” since its launch in April 2005.

“Calling us the Labour Market Enforcement Agency wouldn’t work,” she said. “People know who the GLA is and will know who the GLAA is going to be.

“Government could have decided to create a new agency and probably would have taken about two years to get into place. 

“Instead, a pragmatic decision has been taken to create the director of labour market enforcement and have the three bodies – the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and the National Minimum Wage team working together in a co-ordinated way.”

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