GLAA uses powers on unlicensed couple to prevent labour exploitation
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has made use of legal powers at its disposal to stop a West Midlands couple from providing workers without a licence.
In a statement released this morning, the GLAA revealed it has issued Labour Market Enforcement Undertakings (LMEUs) to a Romanian couple living in Wolverhampton after attempting to supply nine workers to an employment agency.
The sanction, introduced in November 2016 as part of the Immigration Act, has not been used until now.
The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act requires people to have a licence to supply workers in the labour market to prevent labour exploitation and modern slavery, while an LMEU can be imposed across the whole of the labour market when a person breaches the law and features a signed agreement to comply with the rules.
The couple – a woman and a man – have both signed the legal agreement, which will run for two years. If it’s breached, the GLAA can take further action and apply for a Labour Market Enforcement Order, which can lead to a prosecution.
The GLAA added the workers involved, who were also Romanian, have since returned to their home country.
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