The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
Background
The Immigration Act 2016 is designed to address labour exploitation and abuse in the UK and includes measures to reform the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.
The proposals for the authority include:
- changing the name to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)
- providing the new GLAA with additional powers
- detailing specialist officers to investigate cases of severe exploitation
- adjusting the remit to cover exploitation across the entire UK labour market
The GLAA will begin operation under its new terms from 1 October 2016.
Changes outlined in the Immigration Act 2016
Director of Labour Market Enforcement – the first provision of the new Act is to appoint a Director of Labour Market Enforcement. This person will provide strategic direction for those organisations ‘policing’ and regulating the UK labour market:
- GLAA
- National Minimum Wage Unit
- Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate
The strategy will cover any non-compliance in the UK – focussing on labour market offences as well as breaches of licensing conditions, court orders and regulations plus any non-payment of financial penalties.
The director will also be responsible for overseeing the introduction of a new Information Hub to provide a strategic assessment of the shape of labour exploitation and key risks.
The GLAA’s additional powers – the reformed GLA will be given additional powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). These will allow the organisation to investigate abuse allegations across the entire UK labour market.
Additional remit – the new GLAA remit will be unlimited with officers able to look into allegations of labour abuse in all aspects of UK business.
Labour Abuse Prevention Officer – will be a specialist investigator role created within the GLAA. These will be officers specifically detailed to carry out enquiries into labour market abuse offences.
If you have any questions about the GLAA and how it might affect you or your business please contact us by emailing communications@gla.gov.uk.