Slough gangmaster loses licence after ignoring GLA

Euro Contracts Services Limited has had its gangmasters Licence revoked after an initial warning to correctly licence minibuses was ignored and claims that the Public Service Vehicle licence had been applied for were found to be untrue.

Whilst not having the correct PSV licence is not grounds to revoke the licence on its own, the failure to get the licence after a warning and the claim that a PSV licence had been applied for when further investigation proved this was not the case led to the revocation.

Ms Gill Sage the appointed person who heard the appeal said:

”At the time of revocation the appellant had failed to comply with the requirement to produce a PSV operator’s licence within the deadline that had expired on the 23 of September. At that date the Appellant could produce no evidence of compliance despite reminders being sent on the 8 and the 22 of July and on the 15 of October, 2008 and further requests for information on the 27 of October 2008 and the final letter requesting information on the 10 of November, 2008. Despite all these reminders the Appellant failed to produce the relevant PSV or PCV documentation.”

Paul Whitehouse, Chairman of the GLA said:

“We gave this gangmaster every chance to comply with the law. If that opportunity is not taken we have no choice but to revoke the licence”.

Notes to editors

1. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) was set up to curb the exploitation of workers in the agricultural, horticultural, shellfish gathering and associated processing and packing industries.

2. The majority of workers involved in these industries come from countries such as: Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Pakistan and Portugal.

3. So far, 1,229 labour providers hold a GLA licence. Eighty nine licenses have been revoked (8 with immediate effect). One person has been prosecuted for operating without a licence, with more prosecutions forthcoming.

4. The GLA stepped up its fight against those who abuse workers with the launch of Operation Ajax in June. The operation was set up to increase the GLA’s activities with an 18 month programme of unannounced raids.

5. Paul Whitehouse, GLA Chairman, is available for interview by contacting 0115 900 8962

6. Anybody who is aware of exploitation should contact the GLA on 0845 602 5020 or report anonymously at www.gla.gov.uk/report

End

Public enquiries: 0845 602 5020

Media enquiries: 0115 900 8962

www.gla.gov.uk