Unions call for gangmaster law to be extended to construction

Unions are backing a proposal to extend the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (GLA) to the construction sector in a bid to end "the growing mistreatment of workers by rogue employers".

The Act sets registration and licensing conditions for labour providers in the agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and food processing and packaging industries. And now unions would like to see the legislation extended to other parts of the economy.

Those representing construction workers are supporting a ten minute rule Bill introduced by Labour MP Jim Sheridan - responsible for bringing about the original legislation - to promote the measure.

And speaking at prime minister's questions last month, outgoing premier Tony Blair said that the government would "consider carefully" extending the law.

The TUC, the T&G and Amicus sections of the Unite general union and the UCATT construction workers' union say the industry "now urgently needs regulation to end exploitation and drive out the crooks."

In a letter to all Labour backbenchers they point out that construction site deaths "have risen dramatically" with 78 deaths in the industry last year - a 25% increase on the previous year.

Jim Sheridan said that regulation was the only way to protect both workers and good employers: "We must not wait for a Morecambe Bay tragedy to happen in our construction industry before we take action."