Modern day slavery bill might mean GLA expansion
19 December 2013
The head of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) tells recruiter.co.uk it is undecided if a draft bill published this week to tackle modern slavery might entail expansion of the organisation in to new sectors.
Thu, 19 Dec 2013The head of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) tells recruiter.co.uk it is undecided if a draft bill published this week to tackle modern slavery might entail expansion of the organisation in to new sectors.
On Monday (16 December) home secretary Theresa May published draft legislation setting out what is needed to eradicate slavery from the UK, which could be enshrined in law before the next general election in 7 May 2015.
The document says government will “give further consideration to how the experience and knowledge of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority can be maximised to protect workers in other sectors they do not cover”.
GLA chief executive officer Paul Broadbent tells recruiter.co.uk: “Whether this means there will ultimately be an expansion of the GLA remit, or a new inspectorate will be created to cover other areas, is a matter for the politicians to decide.
“What we do know, however, is that exploitation does exist in other UK industry sectors that are not regulated by ourselves or anyone else at the moment and that needs to be addressed.”
More broadly, Broadbent says the GLA “welcomes the bill just as we would any activity that might help protect workers who are severely mistreated”. The GLA this week saw the first custodial sentence ever given to an individual committing a crime under the Gangmasters Licensing Act.
On Monday (16 December) home secretary Theresa May published draft legislation setting out what is needed to eradicate slavery from the UK, which could be enshrined in law before the next general election in 7 May 2015.
The document says government will “give further consideration to how the experience and knowledge of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority can be maximised to protect workers in other sectors they do not cover”.
GLA chief executive officer Paul Broadbent tells recruiter.co.uk: “Whether this means there will ultimately be an expansion of the GLA remit, or a new inspectorate will be created to cover other areas, is a matter for the politicians to decide.
“What we do know, however, is that exploitation does exist in other UK industry sectors that are not regulated by ourselves or anyone else at the moment and that needs to be addressed.”
More broadly, Broadbent says the GLA “welcomes the bill just as we would any activity that might help protect workers who are severely mistreated”. The GLA this week saw the first custodial sentence ever given to an individual committing a crime under the Gangmasters Licensing Act.
- Click for analysis of the draft bill from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), or news in October of the GLA’s launch of a new anti-slavery protocol launched by May at an event hosted by the REC.
