Workers’ rights qualification and GLAA investigator nominated for industry awards

A qualification aimed at preventing labour exploitation and a Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) investigator have been nominated in separate awards ceremonies.

The Level 1 Award in Workers’ Rights and Labour Exploitation has been shortlisted for Collaboration of the Year at the FAB 2022 Awards –  an annual celebration of excellence in the awarding and assessment industry, hosted by the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB).

Developed by the GLAA and Skills and Education Group and launched in 2021, the qualification develops the skills and knowledge of learners so that they are work-ready and able to spot signs of labour exploitation.

Those taking the course learn where to search for jobs, how to spot bogus job adverts, understand how to read a payslip, their employment status, contract types and what exploitation is, which sectors are more at risk and how to report concerns.

The FAB 2022 Awards, now in its seventh year, is being held on Thursday October 20 in Leicester.

In a separate ceremony later next month, GLAA investigator Gemma Kirby has been shortlisted for an outstanding contribution in the statutory services category at the Anti-Slavery Day Awards 2022, hosted by the Human Trafficking Foundation.

The awards recognise organisations and individuals going above and beyond in fighting modern slavery, with the winners chosen by a panel of expert judges from the sector.

Gemma has been a leading voice pushing regional partnerships to work towards service mapping, places of safety and victim navigator-like roles in her role at the GLAA and as part of the South-West Anti-Slavery Partnership.

GLAA Head of Prevention and Partnerships Frank Hanson said: “Protecting vulnerable workers from exploitation is our number one priority as an organisation and prevention forms a cornerstone of this work.

“Our workers’ rights qualification has been really successful in reaching communities potentially at high risk of labour exploitation. Earlier this year, garment workers in Leicester and a cohort from a leading women’s charity in the city were shining examples of the value of the course by improving their knowledge of workers’ rights and in some cases, completing the first qualification of their lives.

“Equally important is ensuring that we have a survivor-centred outlook when we encounter victims of labour abuse, and Gemma has championed this approach both within the GLAA and with our partners.

“I am delighted that we are finalists in these awards and that is testament to our hard work in preventing labour abuse and commitment to supporting victims of exploitation as best we can.”