Working in farming - Gangmasters
All labour providers (including those based overseas) who supply people to work in agriculture, food and fish processing and packaging must be licensed.
It is a criminal offence to operate without a licence and the maximum penalty is ten years in prison. It is also a criminal offence for a labour user to enter into an agreement with an unlicensed labour provider, for the supply of workers. It will be a defence if the labour user can show that he/she took all reasonable steps to check that the labour provider was licensed. It is anticipated that these offences will apply to shellfish gathering from 1 April 2007.
Enforcement is undertaken by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority
(GLA)
on behalf of the Secretary of State.
To obtain a licence
Contact the Gangmasters Licensing Authority for more information.
Who has a licence?
Look at the register held by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Who needs a licence?
There are limited circumstances when a licence is not required. For more information see Exclusions from the Licensing Requirements.
Licence fees, standards and conditions?
For more information contact the GLA
Appeals
An appeal can be made against licensing decisions made by the GLA. A Guide for people making an appeal is available. It includes an application form which can be printed, completed and submitted to the Secretariat.
- Guide for people making an appeal (PDF 85 KB)
For England, Wales and Scotland, the Secretariat can be contacted at:
Gangmasters Licensing Appeals
Defra
Electra Way
Crewe, Cheshire CW1
6GJ
Telephone: 01270 754231
Fax: 01270 754260
E-mail: gangmasters.appeals@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Previous appeals lodged with the Secretariat
Copies of decisions made on appeals lodged with the Secretariat can be obtained using the above postal or email address.
In Northern Ireland, the Secretariat may be contacted at:
Office of the Industrial
Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal (OITFET)
(Gangmasters Licensing Appeals)
Long Bridge House
20-24 Waring Street
Belfast BT1 2EB
Telephone: 02890-327-666 (between 10:00am and 4:00pm)
Fax: 02890-230-184
Guidance for labour users
A labour user can establish a defence if prosecuted by taking steps to ensure a labour provider is licensed:
- Reasonable Steps for Labour Users Guide (PDF 350 KB)
Contacts
For further information please contact:
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority
PO Box 8538
Nottingham NG8 9AF
Email: enquiries@gla.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.gla.gov.uk
Other sources of information
Page last modified:
13 May 2009
Page published: 17 September 2004