Labour market powers used in Nottingham

Investigators from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) have used legal powers to prevent a man living in Nottingham from providing workers without a licence.

A Labour Market Enforcement Undertaking (LMEU) has been served to the 51-year-old Romanian national who attempted to supply workers in the food processing sector in Nottinghamshire without having a GLAA licence.

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act requires people to have a licence to provide workers in the GLAA regulated sectors of agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering, food processing and associated packaging.

LMEUs were introduced in November 2016 as part of the Immigration Act and can be imposed when someone breaches the law. The undertakings feature a signed agreement to comply with the GLAA and its rules.

The LMEU has been signed by the individual and will remain in place for two years.

GLAA Director of Operations Ian Waterfield said: “Anyone who wants to supply workers to our regulated sectors must have a licence with us. We will not hesitate to take action if we find evidence that individuals are not complying with our licensing standards.”

The GLAA currently has 12 active LMEUs in addition to the UK’s first Labour Market Enforcement Order (LMEO) which was given to a couple who profited by supplying workers to food factories in Leicester.

If you believe someone is at risk of exploitation, contact the GLAA’s intelligence team on 0800 4320804 or email intelligence@gla.gov.uk