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Commenting on the crackdown, Anne Fairweather, the REC’s Head of Public Policy said: “The GLA licenses over 1200 businesses, which the authority recognises are, in the vast majority of cases, reputable.  Employment agencies are a vital part of the supply chain in the agricultural and food processing fields as so much of this work is seasonal.  However, those that obtain a licence and flout the rules need to be caught. This is vital to protect both workers and legitimate agencies operating in the sector.”

She continues: “More worrying though is the news that it is becoming increasingly hard to find workers to pick and pack fruit and vegetables.  With more and more migrants returning to booming economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the Government needs to carefully consider where the labour force for this work will come from in future.  Clear, transparent routes to working in the UK will result in the ethical recruitment of labour by employment agencies.” 

The REC is a member of the GLA Board and recently sat on BERR's Vulnerable Workers Enforcement Forum.