The GLA has revoked the licences of three gangmasters.

An investigation into the treatment of Polish and Lithuanian gang labour used to pick flowers in Cornwall and Scotland, led to the revocation of the licences of AAW Contract Services, JDSS and E U Labour after the GLA found overcrowded accommodation and workers living on less than £10 a day.

The GLA discovered that the workers, who were housed in overcrowded caravans, were only paid ‘subs’ of £50 a week and occasionally less, with the rest of their wages withheld until expiry of their contract.

Workers who were no longer employees of AAW Contracts Services had not been paid what they were owed, with no evidence of forwarding addresses seen by GLA officers for the money to be sent on to the workers.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, says: “Workers are not a commodity and should not be treated like one. The law is in place to protect them and we will enforce the law.”