THOSE who supply workers to agriculture, horticulture and food/drink processing and packaging will face up to 10 years in prison and a £5,000 fine if they do not have a new licence by October 1, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has just announced

THOSE who supply workers to agriculture, horticulture and food/drink processing and packaging will face up to 10 years in prison and a £5,000 fine if they do not have a new licence by October 1, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has just announced.

The GLA was set up to curb the exploitation of workers, and up to 600,000 workers will get this protection from the new gangmaster licensing.

Licences are required for the supply of workers to agriculture, horticulture and processing and packaging of any produce derived from agriculture, fish or shellfish.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, said: "The GLA is determined to make a difference. We shall help bona fide labour providers stay legal by driving out those who undercut them by exploiting workers, by mistreating them and exploit the public by not paying taxes.

"If they have no licence they will have no defence. The guilty will face possible imprisonment of up to 10 years."

He added: "Ethical trading and production is an issue on our own doorstep. It is unacceptable that the food on your table could have been picked, produced or packed by an exploited worker."

The authority has established compliance and enforcement teams whose business is to monitor licence compliance, and to enforce and prosecute those who break the law.