Agriculture

Fruit growers could go out of business due to labour shortages

The director of a soft fruits supplier has asked the government to allow seasonal fruit pickers from the EU an easier ride into the UK or see firms like his go out of business.

Temporary workforce, In-house recruitment 23 June 2017

Nottingham man jailed for forced labour and human trafficking

A Nottingham landlord has been sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting human trafficking, two counts of forced labour and fraud at Nottingham Crown Court earlier this month.

Temporary workforce, Legislation/Regulation 16 June 2017

Chinese students flock to Australia to plug gap in China’s wine industry

Chinese students are heading to South Australia to study winemaking to plug a talent winemaking shortage in China’s own wine industry.

Emerging talent 22 May 2017

Recruitment director fined for supplying workers without licence

A Somerset businesswoman has been fined a total of £4k after admitting supplying workers to a fish processing plant without the necessary gangmaster licence.

Temporary workforce 12 May 2017

GLA joins joint operation to prevent illegal shellfish practices

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has taken part in a multi-agency enforcement operation into illegal shellfish operations in the Lochaber area in the Highlands of Scotland.

Legislation/Regulation 18 November 2016

TRS Personnel loses GLA licence after chopping workers’ pay

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has stripped a Shropshire gangmaster of his GLA licence after inspectors found his company was systematically ‘skimming’ workers’ pay, resulting in employees receiving less than the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

Legislation/Regulation, Your recruitment business 25 July 2016

Ipswich seeks prickly recruit

A charity in Ipswich may have caused a spike in the recruitment market after sending out calls for a particularly prickly character to take on a special role in the Suffolk town.

In-house recruitment 5 July 2016

Slovak brothers convicted of trafficking within the UK

Two brothers, found to have exploited fellow Slovak nationals living in the Medway towns in Kent, have been sentenced to six years each in prison.

Legislation/Regulation, Your recruitment business 19 May 2016

Mother and daughter banned for breaching GLA regulations

A mother and daughter have been disqualified from acting as directors for breaching gangmasters regulations.

Legislation/Regulation, Your recruitment business 18 May 2016

Bardsey Island launches new recruitment drive

Bardsey Island off the coast of North-West Wales has launched a new recruitment drive, this time for an information and volunteer officer.

In-house recruitment 17 March 2016

Digging the scene: farmer wanted for Tristan da Cunha

If you have an agriculturally astute candidate who wants the quiet life, then the government of Tristan da Cunha, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, is on the lookout for a UK-experienced farmer to advise on livestock and agriculture.

In-house recruitment 21 January 2016

Fijian workers claim maltreatment by Australian labour firm

Fijian farm labourers employed through the Australian government’s Seasonal Worker Programme have claimed slave-like employment conditions, including being underpaid, underfed, denied medical access and verbally abused.

Legislation/Regulation 18 December 2015

Pizza Hut offers apprenticeship scheme

Pizza Hut UK has launched an apprenticeship schemes and is set to recruit 1,500 apprentices over the next five years.

Your recruitment business, In-house recruitment 7 December 2015

Judge upholds GLA’s decision to take licence from Roberto Mac

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority’s (GLA) decision to take the licence from a Cambridgeshire gangmaster has been backed by an appeal court judge.

Legislation/Regulation 4 December 2015

Seafish showcases fishing careers

Seafood industry body Seafish has launched The World is Your Oyster, a campaign designed to showcase career prospects in the seafood industry.

Your recruitment business, Emerging talent 30 November 2015

Baiada agrees to comply with employment law and pay back underpaid staff

Australian poultry processing company Baiada has made an agreement with the country’s Fair Work Ombudsman to help stop worker exploitation at its site.

29 October 2015

Pro-Force ended contracts with overseas agents ‘over a month ago’

Agricultural recruiter Pro-Force Recruitment ended its contracts with overseas agents in Bulgaria and Romania over a month ago and is taking its recruitment abroad back in-house “to eliminate potential risk to our workers”, the firm revealed today.

Legislation/Regulation 21 October 2015

REC launches investigation into allegations involving Pro-Force

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has launched an investigation into one of its own members, Pro-Force Recruitment, for alleged poor treatment of workers.

In-house recruitment, Legislation/Regulation 20 October 2015

Gangmaster stripped of licence for endangering workers

A Stonehaven, Scotland-based gangmaster has been stripped of her licence after it was found her workers had been underpaid and transported in a “dangerous” vehicle.

Legislation/Regulation 5 October 2015

Australia sees rise in online job ads says SEEK

Online job ads in Australia are up 2% month-on-month for August, and up 11% year-on-year, pointing to a continually growing jobs market, job board SEEK says.

Your recruitment business, In-house recruitment 9 September 2015

Government to consult on widening GLA’s remit and introduce a new offence

The government is to launch a consultation this autumn on proposals to widen the Gangmasters Licensing Authority’s (GLA) remit and introduce a new offence of aggravated breach of labour market legislation.

Legislation/Regulation 1 September 2015

Prime Time Recruitment denies employing illegal workers

Multi-sector recruiter Prime Time Recruitment has “strongly refuted” any claims it has employed illegal workers following a swoop on a London factory by immigration officers recently.

Your recruitment business, In-house recruitment 11 August 2015

Recruiters warned to tread carefully on NMW or lose their GLA licence

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has warned recruiters to tread carefully when charging workers for accommodation, or risk losing their GLA licence.

Legislation/Regulation 31 July 2015

Gangmaster couple jailed for five and a half years

A Lincolnshire couple who ran a gangmaster business were jailed for a total of five and a half years at Sheffield Crown Court in a landmark case.

In-house recruitment, Legislation/Regulation 29 June 2015

Australian job board SEEK finds demand in healthcare and medical sector

SEEK, one of the largest job boards in Asia Pacific, has reported heightened labour demand in the Australian healthcare and medical industry.

Your recruitment business, In-house recruitment 23 April 2015