Food processors and packers will be included within the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Act, the government has confirmed, putting an end to speculation that the sector could be left out of the new law.
Earlier this year, parts of the industry, including unions and retailers, expressed concern that Defra was considering excluding food manufacturers from the Act, which is designed to protect migrant workers from exploitation following the Morecambe Bay cockle picker tragedy in 2004.
However, this week Defra confirmed that the Act would apply to everyone supplying labour to the agricultural and horticultural industries, food and fish processing and packing industries and the drink and beverage manufacturing industry. It added that, as a result, as many as 600,000 people would be protected by the law.
As part of the new plans, from next month gangmasters can start applying for a licence to operate from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. After October 1 it will be an offence to operate without a licence and after December 1 companies could face prosecution if they employ unlicensed workers.
Penalties could include prison sentences of up to a year for food processors, farmers and packers convicted of employing illegal workers, and ten years for unlicensed gangmasters.
The licensing authority said that annual fees for the new licences would range from £250 for small businesses to as much as £4,000 for larger companies.
Beth Brooks & Bill Doult