Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004

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Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 [1]
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to make provision for the licensing of activities involving the supply or use of workers in connection with agricultural work, the gathering of wild creatures and wild plants, the harvesting of fish from fish farms, and certain processing and packaging; and for connected purposes.
Citation 2004 c. 11
Territorial extent  England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland [2]
Dates
Royal assent 8 July 2004
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (c. 11) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom regulating agency workers.

Contents

Background

The legislation was proposed soon after 23 Chinese cockle-pickers died as a result of the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster. [3]

Legislative passage

The legislation was passed as a private member's bill. [4]

Provisions

The act establishes a system of registration and licensing for employers. [5]

Those operating without a licence can receive a sentence of up to 10 years, and farmers and food companies can face a sentence of up to 6 months. [6]

The authority regulates the agriculture, shellfish and processing and packing sectors. [3]

Reception

The bill was supported by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 30(1) of this Act.
  2. ↑ The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004, section 30(2)
  3. 1 2 Wainwright, Daniel (3 December 2015). "Gangmasters and migrant workers: What you need to know". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "Gangmasters Act becomes law". Farmers Weekly . 8 July 2004. Archived from the original on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "MPs hail gangmaster clampdown". BBC News. 27 February 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Unlicensed gangmasters criticised". BBC News. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Gangmasters 'not being tackled'". BBC News. 19 May 2004. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
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