The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is launching a major new initiative that sees it team up with local councils.
Nottinghamshire is the first county council to work with the GLA as part of the project to target rogue gangmasters and deal with the community issues they create.
The GLA is already taking strong action against unscrupulous labour-providers with the revocation of licences and even prosecutions for related offences, but the knock on effects to local communities are now being also being considered. Those living near the houses packed with exploited workers, sharing the roads with dangerously unfit minibuses and local shops not seeing the benefits of workers being properly paid for the work they do are the most likely to benefit from the new initiative, the authority claims.
Under the plans signed by the GLA and Nottinghamshire, council staff working in these areas and receiving complaints from residents about these issues can share this information with the GLA and if the issues are connected to gangmaster activity the GLA can investigate and help the workers which in turn will help the local community.
Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, Nottinghamshire council’s cabinet member for community safety and partnerships said: “By working together, we can help reduce the numbers of workers who are exploited in Nottinghamshire, which will help to protect both them and our local communities.” |
