The government has said statutory registration may be on the cards to end illegal seasonal labour in fresh produce if other measures don’t work.
And it pointed the finger at food chain price pressures as fuelling the use of illegal immigrants and benefit claimants as cheap workers.
In its reply this week to the environment, food and rural affairs committee probe into gangmasters, the government
has rejected fundamental change to its Operation Gangmaster enforcement system - though it will look at the scope for improvements.
It believes its DEFRA and Ethical Trading Initiative project promoting gangmaster best practice is the best way forward. Eight supermarkets are involved in a pilot in Lincolnshire. Here a draft code of practice is being thrashed out which is set to lead to an independent accreditation system. “The supermarkets are actively contributing to this work to raise standards in the industry,” the reply said.
However, the code of practice would need a ‘critical mass’ of gangmasters and labour providers to co-operate to make it work. And the government agrees with the committee that supermarkets’ corporate responsibility policies need to address the use of labour by their suppliers. “This is an issue that can only be addressed by the food chain working together.
“Many labour providers claim they set out to operate within the law, but are put in a position where they feel forced to cut corners to stay in business because their customers are not prepared to pay a price for labour which reflects the full costs of a wage bill.”
A Gangmaster Coordination Group has now been set up at DEFRA to boost enforcement and policy development.
The NFU and Fresh Produce Consortium favour statutory registration, but stress it would need effective enforcement.
It is estimated there are some 3,000 gangmasters operating in horticulture and agriculture, more than previously thought.
Kit Davies
And it pointed the finger at food chain price pressures as fuelling the use of illegal immigrants and benefit claimants as cheap workers.
In its reply this week to the environment, food and rural affairs committee probe into gangmasters, the government
has rejected fundamental change to its Operation Gangmaster enforcement system - though it will look at the scope for improvements.
It believes its DEFRA and Ethical Trading Initiative project promoting gangmaster best practice is the best way forward. Eight supermarkets are involved in a pilot in Lincolnshire. Here a draft code of practice is being thrashed out which is set to lead to an independent accreditation system. “The supermarkets are actively contributing to this work to raise standards in the industry,” the reply said.
However, the code of practice would need a ‘critical mass’ of gangmasters and labour providers to co-operate to make it work. And the government agrees with the committee that supermarkets’ corporate responsibility policies need to address the use of labour by their suppliers. “This is an issue that can only be addressed by the food chain working together.
“Many labour providers claim they set out to operate within the law, but are put in a position where they feel forced to cut corners to stay in business because their customers are not prepared to pay a price for labour which reflects the full costs of a wage bill.”
A Gangmaster Coordination Group has now been set up at DEFRA to boost enforcement and policy development.
The NFU and Fresh Produce Consortium favour statutory registration, but stress it would need effective enforcement.
It is estimated there are some 3,000 gangmasters operating in horticulture and agriculture, more than previously thought.
Kit Davies
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