Gangmasters Licence

GPW Recruitment are pleased to confirm that we hold a Gangmasters Licence allowing us to comply fully with the Gangmasters (licensing) Act 2004.

 

A synopsis of the Act

The scope of the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004 is as follows:

 

  • The Act applies to the whole of the UK and covers agricultural and horticultural work, shellfish gathering and the processing or packaging of any products derived from these industries/sectors
  • The Act defines a gangmaster as anyone employing, supplying and or supervising a worker to do work in the sectors outlined; it will apply to gangmasters whether based in the UK or based offshore; and it will also cover all forms of sub-contracting
  • Employment agencies and employment business (as defined by the Employment Agencies Act 1973) come within the ambit of this Act if they are engaged in activities for which a licence is required under its provisions
  • The Act extends the full protection of the law to any individual worker undertaking work to which its provisions apply

 

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

The Act establishes the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. This body will be a Non Departmental Public Body sponsored/funded by Defra. This Licensing Authority:

 

  1. Will consist of key industry stakeholders and representatives from government and enforcement agencies
  2. Will set the conditions of the licence after consultation; process licence applications; set and collect licence fees; establish a public register of licensed gangmasters; and have the power to modify, suspend or revoke licences
  3. Will proactively enforce the licence conditions and have the ability to investigate and enforce the arrestable offences created under the Bill.

 

Offences established by the Act

Four specific offences have been established by the Act:

 

  • Operating without a licence
  • Obtaining or possessing a false licence or false documentation which is likely to cause another person to believe that a person acting as a gangmaster is licensed
  • Using an unlicensed gangmaster (subject to a reasonable steps/due diligence defence)
  • Obstruction of enforcement officers/compliance officers exercising their functions under the Act

The Act also amends the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to enable the assets of convicted gangmasters to be seized, and also amends the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to make operating without a licence and/or possession of a false licence/false documentation arrestable offences.

 

Penalties

As well as being liable to imprisonment for 12 months if convicted of operating without a licence or possessing a false licence/documents, the Act has added deterrent value by including sentences for repeat offences:

 

  • Up to two years imprisonment for a second offence
  • Up to ten years imprisonment for a third offence

 

GPW see the successful application for a Gangmasters licence as a very positive step forward and fully supports its principals. It will now allow GPW to expand legally into other market sectors ensuring the high level of service to both its candidates and clients alike.

 

To view our Gangmasters Licence Certificate please click here.

 

To help you find our details on the public register you should use our licence "Unique Reference Number" (URN) as the search reference.

 

GPW Recruitment Unique Reference Number (URN) is : GPWD0001

 

The URN is the only way to ensure our record is displayed. The public register can be found on the GLA website. For more information on the Gangmasters Licensing Authority please visit www.gla.gov.uk