Action on illegal gangmasters is nearer after Morecambe Bay says Ed Bedington
The tragic deaths of 19 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay have once again hurled the thorny subject of gangmasters back into the public eye. Human trafficking and slave labour are just some of the illegal activities carried out by unscrupulous operators, and with the recent shocking events in Morecambe, Lancashire, the government is again under pressure to act.
A Private Member’s Bill by Labour MP Jim Sheridan is due to come before the Commons later this month to introduce statutory controls on organisations providing casual labour in a wide range of industries, from agriculture to fishing.
While the Bill has the support and endorsement of the industry, including the major retailers, ministers say they are still undecided whether to support legislation or continue with voluntary registration.
Sheridan, whose Bill has its second Commons reading on February 27, branded the gangmasters system as “nothing more than modern-day slavery”.
The Morecambe Bay tragedy, he said, showed that registration, licensing and penalties were needed to control the estimated 3,000 UK gangmasters who between them provide 100,000 workers.
However, while a degree of confusion remains over whether the Bill will receive ministers’ support, home secretary David Blunkett said he would back the it.
This follows an investigation by the environment and rural affairs committee, which concluded the government was not doing enough to tackle the problem.
The Bill has also attracted support from the gangmasters - albeit the legitimate operators who have found their calls for action overlooked in the past.
Zad Padda, who operates the West Midlands-based Fusion Personnel, said he welcomed the Bill and the increasing attention it was bringing on the sector.
Padda, who constantly faces the problems of being undercut by unscrupulous gangmasters, said: “Something needs to be done. The situation is getting out of hand.”
However, while he supports the Bill, he remains unsure of the details.
“We do have some concerns, on things like the cost implications - we’re working on such low margins. We’ll have to wait and see.
“I don’t think it’s going to be the answer to all the problems, but it’s a start and hopefully will bring some transparency to the sector.”
Doug McLeod, chairman of the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, says there is a need for a statutory agency to control and organise the casual labour sector. “In Morecambe Bay, those workers were overworked and underpaid.
“And cockle collectors should not be licensed unless they are fully aware of the conditions of the area and its drawbacks. Morecambe Bay claims lives every year and there are similar dangers in Solway Firth.”
The Bill has also drawn the support of the retailers. Claire Donovan, Tesco’s technical manager, said it was an opportunity to protect seasonal and temporary workers.
“It is something we have tried to work on for a long time with voluntary codes. Now we feel that if the government would get involved with primary legislation, it will help everything with this difficult cause.”
In the meantime, however, the legitimate gangmasters are not sitting on their laurels. This week saw the announcement of a new trade association to provide a single voice for Zad Padda and his fellow operators. It is also hoped the Association of Labour Providers will help raise standards.
Padda said: “The idea was formed out of meetings with DEFRA. The association is made up of 18 companies which have agreed to abide by a code of practice currently being written. We need to have some input into what is going on and we can’t do that without a voice.”
All companies in the sector will be eligible to join the association provided they sign up to the code of practice, being drawn up by the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Mark Boleat, former director general of the Association of British Insurers, has been appointed as an independent chairman and will also manage it for an initial period.
He said: “It has become clear that the industry comprises a mixture of companies trying to operate within the law and others who do not. The reputable companies need to differentiate themselves and the association will be the means by which this is done.”
So the question remains - with the increasing focus of the media, the industry, trade unions and its own MPs, will the tragic circumstances of Morecambe force the government to finally take action?
The tragic deaths of 19 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay have once again hurled the thorny subject of gangmasters back into the public eye. Human trafficking and slave labour are just some of the illegal activities carried out by unscrupulous operators, and with the recent shocking events in Morecambe, Lancashire, the government is again under pressure to act.
A Private Member’s Bill by Labour MP Jim Sheridan is due to come before the Commons later this month to introduce statutory controls on organisations providing casual labour in a wide range of industries, from agriculture to fishing.
While the Bill has the support and endorsement of the industry, including the major retailers, ministers say they are still undecided whether to support legislation or continue with voluntary registration.
Sheridan, whose Bill has its second Commons reading on February 27, branded the gangmasters system as “nothing more than modern-day slavery”.
The Morecambe Bay tragedy, he said, showed that registration, licensing and penalties were needed to control the estimated 3,000 UK gangmasters who between them provide 100,000 workers.
However, while a degree of confusion remains over whether the Bill will receive ministers’ support, home secretary David Blunkett said he would back the it.
This follows an investigation by the environment and rural affairs committee, which concluded the government was not doing enough to tackle the problem.
The Bill has also attracted support from the gangmasters - albeit the legitimate operators who have found their calls for action overlooked in the past.
Zad Padda, who operates the West Midlands-based Fusion Personnel, said he welcomed the Bill and the increasing attention it was bringing on the sector.
Padda, who constantly faces the problems of being undercut by unscrupulous gangmasters, said: “Something needs to be done. The situation is getting out of hand.”
However, while he supports the Bill, he remains unsure of the details.
“We do have some concerns, on things like the cost implications - we’re working on such low margins. We’ll have to wait and see.
“I don’t think it’s going to be the answer to all the problems, but it’s a start and hopefully will bring some transparency to the sector.”
Doug McLeod, chairman of the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, says there is a need for a statutory agency to control and organise the casual labour sector. “In Morecambe Bay, those workers were overworked and underpaid.
“And cockle collectors should not be licensed unless they are fully aware of the conditions of the area and its drawbacks. Morecambe Bay claims lives every year and there are similar dangers in Solway Firth.”
The Bill has also drawn the support of the retailers. Claire Donovan, Tesco’s technical manager, said it was an opportunity to protect seasonal and temporary workers.
“It is something we have tried to work on for a long time with voluntary codes. Now we feel that if the government would get involved with primary legislation, it will help everything with this difficult cause.”
In the meantime, however, the legitimate gangmasters are not sitting on their laurels. This week saw the announcement of a new trade association to provide a single voice for Zad Padda and his fellow operators. It is also hoped the Association of Labour Providers will help raise standards.
Padda said: “The idea was formed out of meetings with DEFRA. The association is made up of 18 companies which have agreed to abide by a code of practice currently being written. We need to have some input into what is going on and we can’t do that without a voice.”
All companies in the sector will be eligible to join the association provided they sign up to the code of practice, being drawn up by the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Mark Boleat, former director general of the Association of British Insurers, has been appointed as an independent chairman and will also manage it for an initial period.
He said: “It has become clear that the industry comprises a mixture of companies trying to operate within the law and others who do not. The reputable companies need to differentiate themselves and the association will be the means by which this is done.”
So the question remains - with the increasing focus of the media, the industry, trade unions and its own MPs, will the tragic circumstances of Morecambe force the government to finally take action?
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