A gangmaster operating in Birmingham has been refused a licence as he could not demonstrate that he could run a compliant business.

Imran Riaz, who applied for a ‘gangmaster licence’ for a business trading as Brody Recruitment and intended to run the business from an address at Tree Acre Grove in Halesowen, failed to meet or have any knowledge of a variety of basic employment laws.

Riaz kept no notes or records of the advice given by the GLA officer at the interview and was found to demonstrate an inability to comply with GLA licensing standards.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, says: “The law is there to protect workers and to ensure business requirements are met. These are basic rules that the vast majority of gangmasters have no problem with.

“Those who break or bend the rules need to be dealt with to ensure that legitimate businesses and the workers do not suffer.”