Complaints regarding mushroom farms
Freedom of Information Act request.
Ref: FOI 25-26 39
Date issued: 19 January 2026
Subject: Complaints regarding mushroom farms
Question:
My request is as follows. Please provide:
1. The number of complaints per year raised with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority regarding mushroom farms in Northern Ireland and a brief description or summary of the kinds of complaints.
2. Whether the complaints were upheld and/or what further action they led to on each occasion.
3. Records of any communications, meetings or other discussions prompted by these complaints.
4. Any reports, briefing or presentation materials generated by the same.
Our response:
1-2. Please find the information for questions one and two below. We have provided a summary of complaint reasons and action they led to. Please note some complaints may comprise of more than one reason and we do not uphold complaints.
|
Year |
No. of Complaints |
Complaint Reasons |
Outcomes |
|
2016 |
1 |
Pay related issues |
Advice given |
|
2019 |
2 |
Accommodation issues Pay related issues Working hours |
Insufficient Evidence Referral to another agency |
|
2020 |
5 |
Accommodation issues Pay related issues Health and Safety issues Unfair dismissal |
Advice given Referral to another agency Closed pending further intelligence |
|
2021 |
4 |
Working conditions Holiday pay issues Pay related issues Right to work issues |
Inspection undertaken – no issues identified Closed pending further intelligence |
|
2022 |
4 |
Right to work issues Pay related issues Contractual issues Sick pay issues |
Information only Closed pending further intelligence
|
|
2024 |
4 |
Pay related issues Working conditions Unfair dismissal Contractual issues Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issues |
Insufficient Evidence Closed pending further intelligence |
|
2025 |
13 |
Health and Safety issues Pay related issues Unfair dismissal Accommodation issues Contractual issues, including lack of hours Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issues Right to work issues |
Inspection/Investigation undertaken – no issues identified/ no offences disclosed Closed pending further intelligence Information only |
3. This information is not held
4. This information is not held
3