The GLAA revealed in a statement this morning that the standards, effective from 1 October 2018, follow on from an extensive consultation process over the summer and approval from the GLAA Board.

Businesses must apply for a GLAA licence before supplying workers to a GLAA regulated sector, such as agriculture, horticulture and shellfish gathering.

The standards set out the conditions applicants must meet to get a GLAA licence and are legal requirements to protect workers from poor treatment and exploitation, covering issues such as working hours, training and the National Minimum Wage.

All GLAA inspections from 1 October will be tested against these revised standards.

It is a criminal offence to supply workers without a licence or use an unlicensed labour provider.

Commenting GLAA head of licensing Charlotte Woodliffe said the standards were in need of refreshing, having last been changed back in 2012. “People will not see wholesale changes to the standards but a number of small revisions and clarifications which we believe will help us in the fight against modern slavery and labour exploitation,” she added.

The new licensing standards are available to download from the GLAA website.

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