New labour regulator but will it have sufficient resources? 


A new regulator with “police-style” powers to tackle labour exploitation takes on the role and remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) this month. 


The new Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) will be granted “police-style” powers to search and seize evidence. It will investigate modern slavery where it relates to labour abuse and other offences, and will tackle exploitation across the whole economy. 


The GLA was set up in the wake of the 2004 Morecambe Bay tragedy, in which 23 Chinese cockle pickers died. It operated a licensing scheme to regulate “gangmasters” – companies or individuals providing temporary workers in the agriculture, horticulture and shellfish gathering sectors.


The new GLAA will investigate and tackle exploitation across the economy, including construction, care homes and hospitality for example, and will investigate cases of forced labour and human trafficking previously passed to the police. 


However, last year the TUC raised concerns about funding. It warned that ministers had not spelled out how they would resource the expanded remit of the new GLAA, and that the government’s proposals for a more flexible licensing system would lead to fewer workplace inspections, leaving workers more vulnerable to exploitation. 


www.gla.gov.uk