The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has begun a consultation with leading supermarkets to help fight labour exploitation in the UK.

Developed through discussions with ASDA, Iceland, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, the Co-operative and Waitrose, the consultation will look to establish common principles for how the GLA and the supermarkets can co-operate on exchanging information on workplace abuse and conducting joint visits in the supply chain.

The consultation will seek the views of suppliers and labour providers.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, says: “This protocol seeks to take advantage of the supermarkets and their supply chains, efforts to act in an ethical and socially responsible way. This consultation gives everybody the opportunity to contribute and I would urge people to put their views forward.”