The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is consulting on its fees for the next financial year.

The GLA proposes keeping four bands of fees, depending on turnover, and expects 72% of licence holders to pay the same as the previous year.

The licences are designed to protect vulnerable workers from unsafe and unfair working practices. In order to gain and keep their licences, gangmasters must ensure workers are treated fairly, while it is an offence to supply or use unlicensed labour in regulated industries.

So far 1,113 licences have been granted by the GLA. This number is expected to grow to just over 1,304 by April.