The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) announced that it will introduce new licensing standards with the aim of better protection for vulnerable and exploited workers.

The new standards will be brought in on 1 October 2018 following an extensive consultation process over the summer and approval from the GLAA Board.

Businesses must apply for a GLAA licence before supplying workers to a GLAA regulated sector, such as agriculture, horticulture and shellfish gathering. The standards set out the conditions applicants must meet to get a GLAA licence.

They are all legal requirements to protect workers from poor treatment and exploitation, covering issues such as working hours, training and the National Minimum Wage. All GLAA inspections from 1 October will be tested against the revised standards.

It is a criminal offence to supply workers without a licence or use an unlicensed labour provider.

“I’m delighted to announce the launch of the new standards which have been published after a lot of hard work from our team and really positive discussions with our stakeholders,” GLAA Head of Licensing Charlotte Woodliffe, said. “The standards were in need of refreshing having last been changed back in 2012 and we are very happy with the finished document. People will not see wholesale changes to the standards but a number of small revisions and clarifications which we believe will help us in the fight against modern slavery and labour exploitation.”