Freeing forestry and land agents from gangmaster red tape will boost rural economy, says CLA
The CLA said proposals announced today (24 May) for forestry businesses and land agents to no longer need licences from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) to use temporary workers would boost the rural economy.
Agriculture Minister Jim Paice announced that the GLA is to focus on protecting the most vulnerable temporary workers from exploitation while freeing those in low-risk sectors such as forestry and land agency from gangmaster regulation.
CLA President Harry Cotterell said: “We have lobbied on this issue and today’s announcement is a victory for forestry and for land agents providing a boost to the rural economy. The CLA pressed the Government and made recommendations to the Forestry Regulation Task Force for forestry and land agents to be made exempt from gangmaster licensing because these sectors have a proven track record of providing good employment conditions for temporary workers.
“We are very pleased the Government has acted positively and quickly taken on the suggestions of the Task Force. The removal of licensing requirements will enable forestry businesses to grow because this expensive and unnecessary regulatory burden will be gone.”
