The abuse of migrant workers living and working in squalid conditions is appalling. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is the body that regulates businesses who provide workers to the fresh produce supply chain and horticulture industry and ensures that they meet the employment standards required by law. The previous Conservative-led Government made the GLA part of the Home Office, strengthening its enforcement and intelligence capabilities and allowing it to tap into the National Crime Agency's considerable resources and international reach to tackle offenders.
I am extremely glad that the 2016 Immigration Act establishes a new Director of Labour Market Enforcement who will oversee the relevant enforcement agencies to provide a coherent strategy for tackling wrongdoing in the labour market, including serious exploitation of migrant workers.
The Director will be appointed by and report to both the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Business, establishing greater co-ordination and leadership of the enforcement bodies, which will help to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers more effectively.