Complaints received from fruit pickers in the UK

Freedom of Information Act Request

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FOI 23-24 14 Complaints received from fruit pickers in the UK

Ref: FOI 23-24 14

Date issued: 30 August 2023

Subject: Complaints received from fruit pickers in the UK

Question(s):
1. How many complaints has the GLAA received from foreign workers coming to the UK to work as fruit pickers on UK farms about being exploited for their labour in the last six years? (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 so far) Please provide this information in calendar years and say which month it goes up to in 2023. Please also provide the nature of the complaint i.e., poor pay or housing. How many of these complaints were a) investigated and b) led to some further action i.e., prosecution of those accused of exploitation.

2. How many complaints over the last six years has the GLAA received from foreign workers coming to the UK to work as fruit pickers on UK farms, who claim job descriptions when applying did not match what they ended up doing once employed? (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 so far) Please provide this information in calendar years and say which month it goes up to in 2023. How many of these complaints were a) investigated and b) led to some further action i.e., prosecution of those accused of exploitation.

Response:
Our assessment is that the length of time to undertake this activity would exceed the cost thresholds set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and therefore we are unable to provide an answer to your two questions.
Under our duty to assist under section 16 of the FOIA we may reconsider your request if you are able to narrow the focus of the request, and if it then is not assessed as exceeding the cost threshold. Furthermore, there may be exemptions that may still apply to any further request.