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New Gangmasters Licensing Authority inspection rules will see more rogue agencies, says TUC

Responding to yesterday's (Wednesday) announcement by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), that it is to stop carrying out automatic inspections of all companies applying for a new GLA licence, the TUC has warned the decision could lead to an increase in rogue employment agencies.

From October the GLA will no longer automatically send an inspector to check that agency workers are being paid properly and working under safe conditions before it grants a business or employment agency a licence to operate.

The TUC believes this move has come about because the GLA has been put under increased pressure by ministers to introduce 'light touch' regulation and is part of a deliberate attempt to weaken the role of the GLA.

In addition last month, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs unveiled proposals to strip the GLA of its powers to regulate the forestry sector, land agents and cleaning contractors operating in the food processing industry.

Under these proposals, which could be introduced later this year, employment agencies in these sectors would no longer have to get a GLA licence before they start up and won't be subject to inspections once they are operating.

Instead of ending automatic inspections and reducing the scope of the GLA, the authority's remit should be extended to other high-risk sectors including construction, hospitality and social care, says the TUC.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'The government seems determined to weaken the role of the GLA regardless of the impact on vulnerable workers.

'As the tragic events of Morecambe Bay showed, it is essential that inspectors check on workers' conditions, which is why having automatic inspections is so important.

'GLA inspections ensure that people working in high-risk industries are protected, that they are paid the minimum wage, work in a safe environment and are not exploited. Inspections also increase consumers' confidence that workers who are preparing their food and manufacturing products are not being mistreated.

'The government's so-called war on 'red tape' will significantly increase the risk of rogue employers being granted a licence, under-cutting law-abiding agencies and abusing their workforces.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Congress 2013 will be held at the Bournemouth International Centre from Sunday 8 September to Wednesday 11 September. Free media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/media_credentials and completing an online form. Applications must be in by noon on Wednesday 28 August. Any received later than that will be processed in Bournemouth and will cost £75.

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E:
media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk


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