Riccadonna Produce’s Licence Revocation

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has confirmed that Riccadonna Produce’s licence has been revoked.

The Hesketh Bank gangmaster was found by the GLA to be non-compliant with a number of the GLA’s licensing standards, including:

 Verbally abusing workers

 Breaching the National Minimum Wage by charging workers for utilities outside of the Accommodation Offset rules and by charging for transport

 Issuing wage slips which were irregular as they did not record the deductions being made  Retaining ID documents until workers repaid Riccadonna the cost of the Workers Registration Scheme

 Workers having to provide their own Personal Protective Equipment

The numerous non-compliances led the Authority to conclude that Riccadonna was not fit and proper to hold a licence.

Riccadonna appealed against the GLA’s decision to revoke, which was taken in July 2010.

Riccadonna have now withdrawn that appeal. This is the second time Riccadonna has had a licence revoked – their first licence was revoked in September 2009.

Notes to editors

1. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) protects workers from exploitation in the agricultural, horticultural, shellfish gathering and associated processing and packing industries.

2. The Authority’s work levels the playing field for legitimate business and protects the tax payer by uncovering unpaid taxes.

3. It is a criminal offence to provide labour in the industries regulated by the GLA without a licence. It is also an offence to use labour provided by unlicensed labour providers.

4. Paul Whitehouse Chairman of the GLA is the only spokesperson available for interview (unless for whatever reason he is absent in which case Ian Livsey, Chief Executive of the GLA, or another suitably authorised senior person of the GLA will speak on behalf of Mr Whitehouse).

End

Public enquiries: 0845 602 5020

Media enquiries: 0115 900 8962

www.gla.defra.gov.uk